By Erin Lamb
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
WAUKESHA, Wis. - A judge has denied a request by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) and City of Pewaukee police union to halt the Common Council from voting on a contract with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department for police services.
Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Ralph Ramirez on Friday denied the plaintiffs a temporary restraining order, saying there were still too many uncertainties and the WPPA failed to show that WPPA members would experience irreparable harm if the Police Department is abolished. Members could still seek employment with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Ramirez said.
The civil complaint was filed by the WPPA, the city’s police union and three citizens, Neil Evens, Donald Schnoor and Maurice Robinson. The City of Pewaukee, Common Council and Mayor Scott Klein were listed as defendants.
The WPPA circulated two direct-legislation petitions,, each of which was signed by more than 1,600 city residents.
The first petition would require a 5/6th super majority vote of the Common Council before it could enter into a contract for law enforcement services that would exceed $1 million. The second petition would require that the contract would need to be approved by residents through a referendum.
The civil complaint asked the court to require the Common Council to settle the direct-legislation petitions before it votes on a proposed contract for police services with the Sheriff’s Department.
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jim Palmer, argued in court Friday that once a contract is approved, the direct legislation petitions are moot. City attorney H. Stanley Riffle said that, according to state law, direct legislation could not be used in this circumstance to either approve or deny contracting for police services.
The city clerk must still certify the petitions. The certification deadline is today.
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