Sept. 21, 2020 7:35p
(WGTD)---A former Madison police chief with a national reputation for work on issues relating to use of force and systemic racism in the criminal justice system has been hired to serve as a consultant in the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
State Attorney General Josh Kaul, Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley and the consultant, Noble Wray, made the announcement at a news conference held Monday evening outside of the county's detention center near the airport.
Wray will review the evidence presented to him by the Division of Criminal Investigations then provide Graveley with an analysis. Graveley has the task of deciding whether charges should be filed in the case which left Blake paralyzed from the waist down. No timetable was given.
Wray, who is Black, served as Madison's chief from 2004 to 2013, and served as a police reform specialist in the Obama Administration's Justice Dept.
Wray told reporters he was humbled and honored to be selected, and recognizes the gravity of the situation. "I'm from Wisconsin," Wray said. "This is Wisconsin's moment of truth and I want the best for this state and the people of this state," he said.
While Wray is being retained by the county, Kaul was the one who researched possible consultants and made the selection in a bid to insulate Graveley as much as possible from any conflicts. "D-A Graveley and I both believe that having that fair and objective expert analysis conducted will help reach the most just decision possible in this case," Kaul said.
In conversation with the district attorney, Wray said he was glad to hear that Graveley hadn't prejudged it.
Neither has Wray, according to what Wray told reporters, even though he's seen the cell phone video of Blake being shot. "It was graphic and typically things that show up on TV will hit you in a certain way but I have not prejudged the case," he said, explaining that one needs to look at the full weight and body of the evidence.
-0-
