Full Breakdown
Mother’s Long Fight for Justice After Son’s Fatal Shooting by Wauwatosa Police
5/21/2026, 9:44:28 PM
The Fatal Shooting at Mayfair Mall
In February 2020, 17-year-old Alvin Cole was shot by Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah after a foot chase outside Mayfair Mall. Cole, fleeing a quarrel, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot to his forearm before Mensah fired five rounds. Mensah claimed Cole pointed a gun; a security guard and a nearby officer said neither Cole nor his weapon moved.
Background & Context
Mensah had been involved in three fatal police shootings over five years, none recorded on body-camera video because the department resisted the technology. The Cole shooting occurred weeks after George Floyd’s death, intensifying scrutiny of Wauwatosa policing.
Timeline of Legal Proceedings
Feb 2020 – Shooting. 2021-2022 – Investigations reveal conflicting eyewitnesses. 2023 – Civil suit alleges police surveillance. 2024 – Two criminal trials end in hung juries. 2025 – Mensah resigns from the department. 2026 – Confidential settlement reached; Mensah bears no personal liability.
Key Figures & Groups
Alvin Cole (victim); Tracy Cole (mother); Officer Joseph Mensah (shooter); Officer Evan Olson (friend who testified on gun direction); Wauwatosa Police Department; Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office; Cole family’s attorneys; Wisconsin Examiner.
Conflicting Accounts & Gaps
Mensah’s claim that Cole pointed a gun conflicts with a security guard’s and an officer’s testimony that no movement occurred. Officer Olson said the gun pointed away from Mensah. No dash-camera footage exists, leaving a key evidentiary gap.
Official Statements & Responses
Cole family lawyers told the Wisconsin Examiner that the settlement follows two hung juries and a pending third trial, and that Mensah will not be personally liable. The Milwaukee County DA’s office declined to file charges. Wauwatosa PD announced body-camera adoption in 2021 after protests and disclosed a “target list” that included the Cole family and was shared with other agencies.
Criticism & Opposition
Civil-rights groups condemned the lack of video evidence, the alleged surveillance, and the department’s earlier refusal to equip officers with body cameras. The family noted that being barred from testifying limited emotional impact on jurors.
Why It Matters
The case spurred Wauwatosa to adopt body-camera use in 2021, a policy change demanded by protesters. It also highlighted the challenges of prosecuting officers without video evidence, reinforcing calls for broader transparency in law-enforcement operations across Wisconsin.
Community Response & Reform
The family said the protests changed laws and highlighted the need for continued oversight of police practices.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We haven’t had time to grieve yet but it’s coming along,” — Tracy Cole, mother
- “It’s like I could finally see a person instead of a name,” — Tracy Cole
- “At the end of the day, I had to learn to forgive him, for what he did to my son,” — Tracy Cole
