Office of the Independent Police Monitor appoints attorney to represent complainants before City's Police and Fire Commission.

 For the first time in the history of the office, the Office of the Independent Police Monitor (OIPM) has appointed an attorney to represent a complainant before the Madison Police and Fire Commission (PFC). Sharon Irwin Henry, grandmother of Tony Terrell Robinson, has filed a complaint concerning the conduct of Officer Matthew Kenny in the March 6, 2015 shooting death of her grandson and his official statements about the officer involved death. OIPM has appointed Attorney Damon Etawlyah to represent Ms. Irwin Henry and take her complaint before the PFC. 

Under Madison General Ordinance 5.19, the Independent Police Monitor has the authority to appoint legal counsel to support a complainant before the PFC. The Common Council approved this authority when it created the office in 2020. This is the first time it will be used. 

"Complainants and families should not have to carry these cases by themselves," said Aeiramique Glass, Interim Independent Police Monitor. "Police officers are represented by the police union and associations with significant resources, leaving complainants to prove their case on their own. Madison's ordinance is the only one in Wisconsin and one of the strongest in the country. This is one of the many reasons the ordinance was written, and OIPM is using it." Attorney Damon Etawlyah, appointed by Monitor Glass, represents Ms. Irwin Henry. 

The OIPM will not comment on the details of the complaint while it is pending before the PFC.