1966 Father James Groppi was a vocal civil rights
leader in Milwaukee during the 1960's. In this photo
he sits in the back of a paddy wagon.
leader in Milwaukee during the 1960's. In this photo
he sits in the back of a paddy wagon.
1967 Police clash with civil rights protesters and members of the NAACP Commandos
during the open housing marches of 1967.
during the open housing marches of 1967.
1967 Located at 1316 North Fifteenth Street, the "Freedom House" was
a gathering place for civil rights activists in the 1960's. Teargas set it
ablaze on August 29, 1967. Police were blamed and two officers stand
by for the worst.
a gathering place for civil rights activists in the 1960's. Teargas set it
ablaze on August 29, 1967. Police were blamed and two officers stand
by for the worst.
The 1960's were full of turmoil across the country. War, assassinations, and rioting threw Milwaukee Police Officers in the middle of
violent clashes as battle erupted on the streets. Open housing marches went on for 200 nights in a row. Anti-war protesters on
Milwaukee's east side clashed with officers at Water Tower Park and Brady Street. Riots tore at the inner-city neighborhoods. During all
of this MPD officers did their best to prevail and keep the peace.
violent clashes as battle erupted on the streets. Open housing marches went on for 200 nights in a row. Anti-war protesters on
Milwaukee's east side clashed with officers at Water Tower Park and Brady Street. Riots tore at the inner-city neighborhoods. During all
of this MPD officers did their best to prevail and keep the peace.
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1967 Open housing marchers enter the south side under police guard.
March 1967 Inspection at a cold winter roll call. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Police
Historical Society
Historical Society
Officers render aid to a accident victim. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee
Police Historical Society
Police Historical Society
Officer looks for help dealing with an injured person. Photo courtesy
of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society
of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society
1968 Officers struggle with NAACP protesters outside of the Eagles Club
located at 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
located at 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
1965 An officer watches over a segregation protest.
September 1967 Father James Groppi is hauled off to jail again during
an open housing march.
an open housing march.
October 1962 Typical media coverage
of officer involved shootings in the early
1960's. Photos and home addresses of
the officers were included in the story.
of officer involved shootings in the early
1960's. Photos and home addresses of
the officers were included in the story.
October 1967 Officers struggle to arrest a priest during a
open housing march.
open housing march.
October 1967 A protester is escorted to a wagon after being arrested.
December 1967 More battles on the street as protesters fight with
officers on 3rd and Wisconsin.
officers on 3rd and Wisconsin.
December 1967 A Sergeant and a motorcycle cop are attacked in the
street by an angry mob.
street by an angry mob.
1968 A patrolman scuffles with a UW-Milwaukee student during a
campus protest of Dow Chemical.
campus protest of Dow Chemical.
1967 Officers make an arrest during the tense days
after the riots.
after the riots.
1966 On patrol at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
1967 In the days after the riots Tensions remained high. Officers
worked 12 hour shifts and responded with helmets and shotguns to
many assignments.
worked 12 hour shifts and responded with helmets and shotguns to
many assignments.
1967 Officers struggle with protesters inside of the
clerks office at City Hall.
clerks office at City Hall.
1965 A flier distributed advertising a march against police brutality.
1962 A Patrolman salutes a fallen comrade.
1960 Police investigate a mob hit on the west end of District Seven.
1961 Officers attend to an injured child.
1967 Officers struggle with an open housing
protester.
protester.
1960 A Patrolman removes the body of a shooting
victim.
victim.
1967 Police fire teargas at south-side open housing protesters.
1967 Police move in on protesters outside of the burned-out Freedom House.
1967 A protester expresses displeasure with local law enforcement.
1967 An open housing protester goes to jail after
throwing a bottle at police.
throwing a bottle at police.
1961 A patrolman cradles an injured boy in this famous
photograph. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society
photograph. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society
1963 A patrolman swings traffic at a fire scene on a cold Milwaukee Night. Photo courtesy of the
Milwaukee Police Historical Society
Milwaukee Police Historical Society
1967 An interior shot of a 1967 patrol car. Photo courtesy of the
Milwaukee Police Historical Society
Milwaukee Police Historical Society
1960 Front and rear views of a January accident between two
squads on North Nineth Street. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society
squads on North Nineth Street. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society
A couple more squad pile ups in the 1960's. (Photos courtesy of the Milwaukee Police
Historical Society)
Historical Society)
1960
1969
1968 Officers prepare to deal with Dow Chemical protesters at
UW-Milwaukee.
UW-Milwaukee.
1967 I know it was taken in September 1967, in the front lobby of the Mayor's
Office. A group of protesters demanded to see the Mayor. When he refused,
they refused to leave. The police were called to clear the lobby. After asking,
then ordering the protesters to leave, the protesters began sitting down. The
photo was snapped as the first officer began to pick up the first seated
protester. My Dad, Ray Wesolowski, was behind that officer. My Dad is the
one wearing the non-standard riot helmet. He said it was quite a brawl. The
young man with the heavy glass ash tray launched it when the melee started,
striking the officer next to my Dad in the helmet. Despite the helmet, the officer
received a mild concussion.
During the brawl, my Dad lost one of his uniform shoes. Heavy, soft soled
lace up oxfords as I recall. He was really mad about that, as he thought he
would find it lying on the floor when the room was finally cleared. But it was
apparent that on of the protesters stole it. He had to walk back to his squad
with one shoe, and obtain a new pair. (Photo and caption courtesy of Sgt. Dan Wesolowski)
Office. A group of protesters demanded to see the Mayor. When he refused,
they refused to leave. The police were called to clear the lobby. After asking,
then ordering the protesters to leave, the protesters began sitting down. The
photo was snapped as the first officer began to pick up the first seated
protester. My Dad, Ray Wesolowski, was behind that officer. My Dad is the
one wearing the non-standard riot helmet. He said it was quite a brawl. The
young man with the heavy glass ash tray launched it when the melee started,
striking the officer next to my Dad in the helmet. Despite the helmet, the officer
received a mild concussion.
During the brawl, my Dad lost one of his uniform shoes. Heavy, soft soled
lace up oxfords as I recall. He was really mad about that, as he thought he
would find it lying on the floor when the room was finally cleared. But it was
apparent that on of the protesters stole it. He had to walk back to his squad
with one shoe, and obtain a new pair. (Photo and caption courtesy of Sgt. Dan Wesolowski)
1965 Protesters are carried to an awaiting wagon during a protest of
segregation by busing of African American students.
segregation by busing of African American students.
1965 Raw video(no sound) of the arrests of protesters pictured
to the left.
to the left.
1967 An officer gaurds marchers as they head to Milwaukee's South Side
during a Open Housing March.
during a Open Housing March.
August 1967 Raw 16mm video(no sound) of officers during the
Open Housing Marches on Milwaukee's South Side.
Open Housing Marches on Milwaukee's South Side.
1967 South Side protesters square off with officers at Kosciuszko Park.
1966 Robbery investigation outside of a Vliet
Street bank.
Street bank.
1963 Patrolman Donald Pinsker poses for a
photo outside of his home. Photo courtesy of Ptlm. Donald
Pinsker
photo outside of his home. Photo courtesy of Ptlm. Donald
Pinsker
1962 Dreaded parade duty.
1969 A protester is removed from UWM.
1966 Scenes from the UAW strike.
Officers working security gather at the side of the stage in
the Milwaukee Arena during a September 4, 1964 concert
by the Beatles. (Photos courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society)
the Milwaukee Arena during a September 4, 1964 concert
by the Beatles. (Photos courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society)
1961 A traffic Post Officer puts a crime prevention tip on a
parking meter. (Photos courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society)
parking meter. (Photos courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society)
1969 Patrolmen monitor striking brewery workers. (Photos courtesy of the
Milwaukee Police Historical Society)
Milwaukee Police Historical Society)
1966 An old Milwaukee Police wagon passes by a current officer during
Milwaukee's Great Circus Parade.
Milwaukee's Great Circus Parade.
1960 Protester gets dragged through a broken display window.
1968 A protester is removed from a the Milwaukee Auditorium where
presidential candidate George Wallace was speaking.
presidential candidate George Wallace was speaking.
1966 Police investigate the discovery of a murder victim in a north side
church.
church.
1967 Officers intervene when a fight breaks out during an open housing
march.
march.
1967 A marcher taunts a patrolman.
1967 Officers battle during an open housing march.
1967 Another scuffle during a housing march.
1967 Tear gas hanging in the air and broken glass littering the street are
all that remains of another open housing march on South 16th Street.
all that remains of another open housing march on South 16th Street.
1967 The injured pile up as fights break out during a housing march.