Milwaukee official drops idea to rename park

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A Milwaukee County supervisor is dropping his proposal to rename a park for a man who was fatally shot by police.

Khalif Rainey wanted to change the name of Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee to Dontre Hamilton Square on behalf of Hamilton, a black man who was shot 14 times by a white officer on April 30.

Red Arrow Park was named after the 32nd Infantry Division of the Army National Guard that fought in both world wars. The park also is a tribute to the Wisconsin soldiers who died in the wars and local veterans organizations raised funds to place a granite monument there, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1xZQUVV ).

"Red Arrow Park belongs to the Red Arrow infantry division," Rainey said Wednesday.

Rainey agreed to establish a different kind of community reminder of Hamilton's shooting after military veterans and their families contacted him to voice their opposition.

Rainey intends to continue discussing possible options with veterans and county officials. Some options include dedicating a park bench to Hamilton or planting an evergreen tree in his name at the site of the shooting, Rainey said.

In late December, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced that former Milwaukee police officer Christopher Manney would not be charged in the fatal shooting. He determined that Manney's use of force was justified self-defense.

Hamilton's family has said Hamilton suffered from schizophrenia. Police Chief Edward Flynn fired Manney in October, saying Manney ignored department policy and treated Hamilton as a criminal by frisking him.

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Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com