Jose "Ace" Acevedo
Local Latino Peace Officers Association named Acevedo, one of its members as Officer of the Year 2013.
By H. Nelson Goodson
January 26, 2014
Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, Officer Jose "Ace" Acevedo from the Second Police District Station was recognized as the Latino Peace Officers Association (LPOA) "Officer of the Year." Officer Acevedo is an active member of the LPOA and the Second District's police auxiliary coordinator and explorer coordinator.
Acevedo was recognized for his commitment to the community and the LPOA, according to Acevedo's Facebook posting.
In brief, the local LPOA in the Summer made news after some of its members who volunteer as security for the annual Mexican Fiesta three day lakefront festival allegedly were involved in kicking out suspected gang members and a man with a facial tattoo from the event without just cause. The current LPOA president, Milwaukee Officer Alexander C. Ayala confirmed that the Milwaukee Police Intelligence center was used to identify the victims that were kicked out of fiesta without actual prove of their affiliation with gangs. The discriminatory policy was endorsed previously by the former LPOA president Ruben Burgos, a retired Milwaukee Police Lieutenant of Detectives.
The discrimination policy was also adopted by the Mexican Fiesta officials with the aid of the Milwaukee Police Department that sparked protests and a boycott for next year's fiesta by members of the community.
At a press conference held in September at the fiesta office run by the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation (WHSF), which Hispanic News Network U.S.A. was barred from attending, they actually confirmed their policy to kick out or deny entry to any former, current or alleged future gang member from admission to the Mexican Fiesta grounds even though they hadn't committed any wrongdoing at the grounds.
At a press conference held in September at the fiesta office run by the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation (WHSF), which Hispanic News Network U.S.A. was barred from attending, they actually confirmed their policy to kick out or deny entry to any former, current or alleged future gang member from admission to the Mexican Fiesta grounds even though they hadn't committed any wrongdoing at the grounds.
The Summerfest grounds are owned by the City of Milwaukee and rents the area to World Festival Inc., who runs Summerfest at the lakefront.
Those kicked out from the fiesta last Summer were not given any recourse to prove such gang affiliation allegations were false and were never given a refund. They victims were ripped off by Mexican Fiesta.
Also, Mexican Fiesta, WHSF and several LULAC chapters deny access for scholarships to undocumented DREAMers, despite a majority of those attending the festival are undocumented and spent money at the event.
Also, Mexican Fiesta, WHSF and several LULAC chapters deny access for scholarships to undocumented DREAMers, despite a majority of those attending the festival are undocumented and spent money at the event.