Wauwatosa mayor says protest ordinances will now be enforced

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wauwatosa's mayor says he's had enough.

Mayor Dennis McBride says officers in the village will now start enforcing ordinances already on the books that had been overlooked during three months of mostly peaceful protests there.

Arrests will now be made over things like blocking traffic, protesting on private property and picketing at private residences.

That's exactly what happened Saturday night at a home occupied by suspended Officer Joseph Mensah.

The protest escalated into a fight and a gunshot hitting the home.

"None of that would have happened if they hadn't gone to a private residence," Mayor McBride said. "We have an ordinance prohibiting picketing of private residences, it's unacceptable, none of that would have happened on Saturday night if that hadn't violated that ordinance, so it's time for us to enforce that."

The mayor's comments come just hours after the president of the Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association held a news conference to say that 99 percent of the members of the department have no confidence in McBride's leadership.

The mayor called that poll "balderdash."