KENOSHA, WI., [01-11-2021]- Grassroots political organization Police Officers’ Defense Coalition commended the decision made by Kenosha District Attorney Michael Graveley not to charge the officers that were involved in the shooting of Jacob Blake. 

Officers Rusten Sheskey and Officer Vincent Arenas responded to a domestic incident involving Jacob Blake in late August of 2020. Blake ignored all requests from the officers and tried to walk away from the scene of a possible kidnapping and alleged assault. Both officers used tasers on Blake, who was believed to be armed with a knife and a danger to Laquisha Booker and the three children that were present in the car at the time. The tasers had no effect, and the Officers had to increase their use of force to protect and defend themselves and those nearby.  

“Police Officers’ Defense Coalition, along with many other organizations committed to defending our men and women in blue, commend and applaud the decision made by District Attorney Gravely. We know Graveley was under fire from activists and political pressure from Civil Rights Attorney Crump, who always wants to play the race card no matter how clearly the incident shows racism was not even in the deck. Crump and other politicians wanted to use these officers as political pawns. Our board appreciates his candor of DA Gravely and his bravery to push back,” said Police Officers’ Defense Coalition President James Fotis. 

“Officer Sheskey knows that an armed man with a felony warrant, who just forcefully resisted arrest, appears to be about to flee in a disputed vehicle, and there’s at least one child in the back,” District Attorney Graveley said about the incident. “Those are all the facts that Officer Sheskey has in the context of a domestic abuse case at the point he has to decide what to do next.”

“Many progressive politicians are trying to demonize our dedicated police officers for doing the job in the way that they were trained. These woke political envoys would rather the police officer die trying to protect and serve than take out the immediate threat by protecting themselves and others. Justice was served well today by DA Graveley, and we hope this sends a clear message that our officers will not and should not be penalized for following procedure to mitigate severe threats like Jacob Blake,” concluded Mr. Fotis. 

For more information about Police Officers’ Defense Coalition and the work they are doing in the political process to defend and support law enforcement, visit www.policeofficersdefensecoalition.com/about 

Police Officers Defense Coalition is a §501(c)(4) entity, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. Contributions to the Police Officers Defense Coalition are not tax-deductible.