Monday, May 30, 2011

Bradford Beach Closed By Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies By Mistake

Sheriff deputies shut down Bradford Beach hours early without authorization on Memorial Day.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 30, 2011

Milwaukee - On Monday, thousands of people gathered at Bradford Beach were forced to leave when Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies announced the beach was closed hours early. The beach park closes at 10:00 p.m. Deputies began to disperse crowds from the beach at around 6:30 p.m. and scores of people (Milwaukee County taxpayers) weren't to happy as they were being forced out of the area. Most of the people affected were African-American and minorities.
Earlier in the afternoon, traffic had been blocked from getting access into the beach, but it didn't keep people from walking along the beach.
Deputies were suppose to keep the crowds moving along the sidewalks and from walking on N. Lincoln Memorial Drive. But deputies in motorcycles, mounted in horses and squad cars without authorization began to announce that "the beach is closed." They moved people out of the area and thousands were seen walking out of the beach.
A Sheriff supervisor later admitted that deputies misunderstood an order and took it upon themselves to force people out of the beach. An inquiry into closing the beach early will be initiated, according to the supervisor.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke could not be reached for comment.

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