Milwaukee County officials want outside probe of jail deaths

By: Associated Press//December 13, 2016//

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Two Milwaukee County supervisors are seeking outside investigations of deaths at the Milwaukee County Jail after four deaths have occurred since April.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr. and Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde are sponsoring the resolution, which would require outside investigations of deaths at the Milwaukee County Jail.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office runs the jail and is investigating three of the four deaths. The Milwaukee Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation of the fourth.

County lawyers say the board of supervisors lacks the authority to demand independent probes. The sheriff says the two supervisors are diverting attention from the fact that opiate-related deaths are becoming a scourge in Milwaukee.

The proposal will be considered Thursday at a county supervisors subcommittee meeting.

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