A UW official’s comments critical of prosecuting shoplifters at “big box” stores have garnered widespread criticism, prompting a statement explaining the remarks.
“I just don’t think that they should be prosecuting cases … for people who steal from Wal-Mart,” said Everett Mitchell, director of community relations at UW, at a panel discussion last week. “I just don’t think that. I don’t think Target or all them other places, the big boxes that have insurance, that they should be using … the fact that people steal from there, justification to start engaging in aggressive police practices.”
Mitchell, who is African-American, is also pastor of Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church and a former prosecutor with the Dane County District Attorney’s Office. He made the comments on Aug. 18 during a discussion on best policing practices at Vilas Hall, which also featured former Madison Police Chief David Couper and Young Gifted and Black organizer M Adams. (See the comments here.)
People are also reading…
His remarks, reported the conservative news organization Media Trackers and picked up by the Daily Caller and other publications, drew comments expressing outrage at Mitchell’s call to let shoplifters off the hook.
“When did it become OK just to take what you want without paying for it?” reads one comment on the Media Trackers website. “Walmart and Target today, Mercedes and Audi dealerships tomorrow, going into the bank and taking whatever amount of money you want, even if you don't have any money in the bank — just keep on taking. I wonder if Mr. Mitchell has ever heard of the Ten Commandments? Thou shalt NOT steal!”
“Today's liberal logic 101,” reads another. “It's not stealing as long as the store has insurance?! really?!”
On Friday, Mitchell posted an unapologetic explanation.
“I am saddened that those with differing agendas have taken a selective portion of a larger conversation out of context in an effort to discredit my views,” he said. “My comments around ‘big box’ retailers were in no way an endorsement of shoplifting or other criminal behavior, but part of a point about how the distribution of police resources to areas with high numbers of misdemeanor crimes can bring low income or people of color into frequent contact with law enforcement.”
During the panel discussion, Mitchell prefaced his “big box” remarks by saying, “I don’t know about you all, and I don’t know if it’s being taped. I might not ever get a job at Wal-Mart.”
He alluded to discussions that he’d attended on crime, but didn’t mention specifics.
“I go to these meetings and that’s what they throw up on the table, look at all this crime that’s happening,” he said. “At East Towne and West Towne Mall, at the Wal-Marts and Targets, ‘That’s why crime is happening. That’s why we have to focus so much’ … they do that all the time to justify why they’re going to overpolice our children.”
Mitchell advocated for a restorative justice model for non-violent misdemeanor offenders that would allow those between the ages of 17 and 27 to perform community service.
“I am a lawyer and I believe in the law,” he said. “I also believe in equal justice for all, and in reforms to our criminal justice system that address disparities in policing for people of color. As co-chair of a United Way taskforce on policing, I am part of the national conversation on this vital issue.”
Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
Steven Elbow
Steven Elbow joined The Capital Times in 1999 and has covered law enforcement in addition to city, county and state government. He has also worked for the Portage Daily Register and has written for the Isthmus weekly newspaper in Madison.
 |
 |
