Wauwatosa council approves $95,000 settlement for former officer Joseph Mensah

The Wauwatosa Common Council has unanimously approved a $95,000 workers' compensation settlement for former police officer Joseph Mensah. The payment is intended to address a claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Mensah, who resigned from the Wauwatosa Police Department in 2020, was involved in the shootings of three people during his five-year tenure, including the 2020 death of Alvin Cole. While Mensah faced no criminal charges, the settlement has drawn criticism from those representing the victims' families. Attorney Kimberley Motley noted that while families have had to fight for justice, Mensah has received multiple payouts, including a $125,000 severance agreement in 2020.

Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride stated the settlement was reasonable to resolve the matter and noted that the funds would come from the city’s workers' compensation reserves rather than the general fund. McBride characterized the PTSD claim as a separate legal matter from the previous shootings.