HispanicVista Columnists

Wilbert Javier Prado, Victim of Special Interest Politics?

By Robert Miranda

Special to HispanicVista.com

Residents in Milwaukee continue to press for Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann to file criminal charges in the killing of an unarmed man by off-duty police officer, Alfonso Glover.

Glover states that a road rage of sorts was the crux of the contact between him and Wilbert Javier Prado, a Mexican national and father of two daughters. Prado was shot by Glover eight times, mostly in the back and died in an alley in Milwaukee’s south side. Glover shot at Prado 19 times with his off-duty weapon alleging that Prado had tried to run him over with his vehicle. Glover was not in uniform nor did he have a police badge.

In May 2005, a six-person inquest jury found that the shooting, despite contradictions in Glover’s statement regarding Prado having a weapon, was justified. At first, Glover was not sure if Prado had a weapon; during the inquest, Glover stated emphatically that he did see a weapon in Prado’s hand.

The inquest jury’s decision is only advisory; it is up to E. Michael McCann to make the ultimate decision to charge Glover with a crime.

A committee seeking justice for Prado handed over 700 petitions to E. Michael McCann in June 2005 asking that he file criminal charges against Glover. It is now August, and E. Michael McCann has yet to issue a decision on the case.

Why is E. Michael McCann reluctant to issue criminal charges? Clearly, questions remain from the inquest which should be pursued in criminal court. Suspect is Glover’s claim regarding why he felt he had to shoot at Prado 19 times, killing him with eight shots from his .45 caliber weapon.

Could the matter be a political powder keg? Could McCann be not only pondering the issue of justice, but also weighing the political backlash as well?

It is said that the League of Martin, a union composed of African-American members of the Milwaukee Police Department is eyeing this matter closely. The Milwaukee Police Association, the largest police union, is also watching this closely. Glover, an African-American officer could end up being the first police officer charged criminally by McCann who has yet to file charges against a police officer during his tenure as District Attorney.

Could the unions be holding sway in this matter? Could Lady Justice be blind to the sand being poured onto the scales of justice by them?

In fact, any inquest into a fatal shooting by a Milwaukee police officer of any citizen has not resulted in criminal charges being filed against any police officer in Milwaukee County over the past 20 years, a Journal Sentinel review found.

It appears that McCann has allowed the criminal justice system to be placed in a position where politics carry more weight over justice. These issues become key factors and make the Prado matter likely to be a victim of politics. If this is the case, then not only have the scales become unbalanced, the dress Lady Justice is wearing is being pulled over her eyes as well, and reveals some rather dirty underpants.

Education for The People, a grass-roots community organization, reported that over the last few years, over 820 complaints filed against Milwaukee Police officers by citizens resulted in no actions by the Milwaukee Police and Fire Commission. Not one was acted upon according to the group’s executive director, Matt Nelson. Where is the accountability? Milwaukee Police and Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs are being charged with crimes all around us and we are supposed to believe that our law enforcement community is infallible?

District Attorney McCann should issue criminal charges against Glover and allow the court of law to determine his innocence or guilt. Politics aside, justice must prevail in this matter. Glover should be tried for his murderous action against an unarmed human being. As for the politics, we must ensure that special interests groups never take the place of justice.

Miranda, a frequent contributor to HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com), is a national award-winning columnist, Latino community activist and columnist for the Milwaukee Spanish Journal. Email at: rmiranda@wi.rr.com