Residents call for probe of police role in meeting melee

Area residents angered by the melee that broke out at the Port Washington Common Council meeting last week as an opponent of the Vantage Data Centers Lighthouse Campus was forcefully removed from the session by police told the Police and Fire Commission Monday that they want an investigation into the matter.

In all, three women were removed from City Hall in handcuffs and issued municipal citations for disorderly conduct at the Dec. 2 council meeting, an action that has gone viral and garnered attention from media outlets throughout the area.

Robert Parker of West Bend told the commission that the public’s trust “has been shattered and undermined by the actions of Chief (Kevin) Hingiss” and asked that he be suspended as an investigation into the incident is conducted. If warranted, he said, Hingiss should be removed from office.

“Nobody is above the law, especially law enforcement itself,” Parker said. “How can we trust the Port Washington Police Department to protect this community and enforce the law if they can act with impunity?”

Kris Ekman of Port Washington said he was “shocked and appalled” by the incident.

“My question tonight for the police department is why did you escalate the evening?” he said. “This was grossly mishandled. It escalated by unreasonable force and an infringement on our First Amendment rights. We want to hold you accountable.”

He noted he had been at previous council meetings when tensions were higher and police didn’t act against people in the crowd.

“Why that night? Why Christine?” he asked.

Last week’s incident took place during the public comments portion of the Common Council meeting. Christine Le Juene, a founder of Great Lakes Neighbors United, a group opposed to the data center, talked about the organization’s efforts to force a referendum on the data center financing, saying people support the effort because their voices aren’t being heard by officials.

As she returned to her seat, she shouted “recall” several times before sitting down quietly. A few seconds later, as the next speaker talked, Hingiss approached and repeatedly asked Le Juene to leave. She refused.

He and another officer physically removed her from her seat — Le Jeune had gone limp but then kicked at the officers, Captain Craig Czarnecki said  — angering the crowd, which began shouting at police and officials.

Many people in the crowd began filming the scene on their cellphones and cameras, and several tried to stop police from removing Le Jeune as Mayor Ted Neitzke asked people to step back.

Two women who tried to prevent police from removing Le Jeune, holding onto her while she was on the ground, were also removed from City Hall in handcuffs.

A statement by Police Captain Craig Czarnecki noted that there were several short outbursts by people who shouted at the Common Council members or speakers who were talking, and multiple warnings were given both by officers and the city attorney to allow people to speak without interruption or they would be removed.

The disturbance began when Le Juene began chanting toward the council, prompting others to shout as well, according to the statement, “causing a disturbance and interrupting another citizen” who was speaking.

After Le Juene refused numerous “lawful requests” to leave the room, the statement says, officers tried to escort her from the room but she went limp and refused to move, so officers lifted and dragged her toward the door. Le Juene “was kicking toward officers, actively resisting arrest and continuing her behavior which led to this disturbance growing unnecessarily.”

According to a statement from Great Lakes Neighbors United, it is “saddened and appalled” by the incident, which it said occurred after a “passionate speech (by Le Juene) which the police appeared to take issue with. Contrary to what the city states, at no point did her comments interrupt the subsequent speaker and she posed no threat to anyone’s safety.

“She was treated with excessive force in a country where all citizens are supposed to have the right to voice their opinion without fear of reprisal by those sworn to protect us. Citizens now have to fear they may be arrested simply for expressing differing opinions than the city leaders.”

Le Juene could not be reached for comment.

When the incident occurred, Amanda Farmer of Port told the commission, “I immediately broke down in tears. The idea she deserved to be treated that way by the people of this town made me sick. This was a blatant misuse of power.”

Jonathan Klett of Milwaukee, said, “You as a Police and Fire Commission need to act on this immediately because the world is watching,” he said Monday. “The people who were escalating were law enforcement.”

“I do think it was an overreaction what happened last week,” Mike Beaster of Port Washington added. “We do not want to be in the spotlight for this reason. I think our city needs to begin the process of healing.”

He noted that the crowd last week was “looking for leadership when this happened,” but officials left the room. Beaster suggested an apology from Neitzke to Le Juene should be issued, saying, “accountability does start at the top.”

Noting that the main topic for many in the crowd was the around-the-clock construction hours five days a week approved by the Plan Commission for the data center,    Beaster said the city should consider “dialing back the 24-hour construction” to help ease tensions.

“I really want this community to begin healing,” he said.