Sheridan / Media / Next Step?

Justice for Sheridan Collective, 23.07.2004 17:03

As the Sheridan tragedy continues to be debated by Mequonites and members of the Milwaukee community, the Justice for Sheridan Collective must decide a course of action; please help direct us with your input.

Matthew Sheridan

Since the protest of two weeks ago (see mke.indymedia.org/en/2004/07/201425.shtml) , there has been much discussion over what should be done about the death of Matthew Sheridan.

Community activists have been mobilized, the television media covered the protest strikingly well, and the police have yet to release more essential information about the case or the future of the officers involved. Mequon media, including the News Graphic, have covered the issue.

At the juncture, the Justice for Sheridan collective has shown the Mequon PD and government that there is a concerted public effort to ensure Matthew receives justice. Being a public and democratic group, the Collective wants your input on how to proceed. Please comment on this article with any thoughts, comments or advice you may have...

Issue to comment on include:

1) Response to the protest
2) Media coverage: good, bad, existent?
3) Stories about Sheridan (we must remind ourselves, unlike the Journal Sentinal would have us believe, that Matthew was a living, thinking human)
4) What should happen to the police involved?
5) Was it really an accident? What do you think happened that night?

Any comments on these or any other related issue would be much appreciated. Thank you for taking part in this community discussion.
~JSC~

accident? 24.07.2004 - 01:44 Though there's no proof against it, it's so hard to believe that this could be an accident. I can understand that the cop who killed Matt may have been frustrated and acting out under pressure. But in doing so, he took a life. I don't think the hood was necessary, even if the cop meant to only put on a spit bag. The ride back to the police department shouldn't have take as long as it did. If the cop would have waited out the remaining few minutes while Matt was throwing a fit, this wouldn't have happened. That's one of the hardest things to deal with through this whole situation. That THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!!! The cops knew Matt, and they didn't like him. Would the same measures have been taken against someone who had no previous record with the law? I'm thinking not. Matt always told me that the cops had it out for him. Ironic. I feel that the cop should be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Aside from the PD getting sued, I don't know what else can be done. Overall, I am not happy with the articles I've read concerning the situation. It's not okay just because Matt was a felon. "Yes, Matthew Sheridan was suffocated by a cop.....but he had previously been charged with burglary, disorderly conduct, 6 counts of sexual assult..." That's crappy. I live about 2 hours north, but I would love to help out with whatever I can. I couldn't get off of work to go to the July 10 protest. Anyone can feel free to contact me. Thanks for your time. Staci Staci Voster> e-mail:: Dream22974@aol.com quick comment from a sleepy boy 24.07.2004 - 01:58 1) Response to the protest: overall positive, being there at the protest i can say with alot of confidence that the community was primarily happy with what we were doing, spare a middle finger i got from a man in a teal station wagon, damn you, you tealed menace!! Anyways we got alot of honks, hoots and hollers (the vital, triple "H") from other Mequonites and neighboors. 2) Media coverage: good, bad, existent?: existant and for the most part, positive. I should note that in my opinion "positive" really means "as good as its gonna get" as far as media goes, but yeah, it was pretty decent. 3) this didnt apply to me. 4) What should happen to the police involved?: Unemployment should happen, or atleast reassignment. All of that should happen after a thorough and rigorous investigation of what happened that night occurs. Also the seriousness of training all police everywhere should be seriously re-evaluated so "accidents" like this dont happen ever again. 5) Was it really an accident? What do you think happened that night?: i personally flat out don't believe it was an accident. i think its niave to not atleast question what happened that night. Given all the fishy circumstances involving how long it took for Sheridan to get to the police department, the mask, the fact that it was later admitted that the officer and no idea how to operate the mask and so on is pretty indicative of just how screwed up the situation was. I think its our obligation to keep organizing, keep motivated, keep informing ourselves and KEEP ACTIVE, not only in this incident of police brutality but all over Milwaukee. thats all with melty wings, icarus414 Icarus> Media Coverage 24.07.2004 - 02:01 The media coverage of the Matthew Sheridan case has been minimal considering what an enormous tragedy this is. To have a 20 year old killed in police custody, someone PAID BY THE PEOPLE to protect them, makes absolutely no sense at all. I saw most of the newscasts on the protest and thought each channel covered it better than I initially expected, but I still believe more could be done. Instead of directing simple questions towards the protesters (such as "why are YOU protesting?"), they could have asked questions that inspired thought-provoking answers. KMV> Good call 24.07.2004 - 02:12 Thats a good point, in my opinion it goes without saying that anyone (media or otherwise) who isn't railing on the cops for being irresponsible and trying to do what ever they can to get to the bottom of this isn't doing enough...however considering we're talking about an information outlet that almost unwaveringly considers all cops to be knights in shining armor, they "did us good" that being said, i can't wait until the day when gus gnorski is on the streets with us. Icarus> A Quick Look At Hoods And Torture 24.07.2004 - 08:52 Three things come to mind immediately when I think of the most hurtful ways hoods are used: 1) Military Prisoner Abuse 2) Police Prisoner Abuse 3) Ku Klux Klan Rallies fwiw.  http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/jul04/245806.asp  http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2004/July_04/07222004_06.asp  http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/jul04/244187.asp  http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2004/July_04/07152004_11.asp  http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2004/July_04/07152004_13.asp marco> additional questions 24.07.2004 - 20:49 just out of curiosity, how much media coverage is given, on average, to a murder by police of a person of color in lower income neighborhoods in the city of milwaukee? how much organizing and protesting went on the last time this type of situation occurred under those circumstances? has anyone looked into similar situations elsewhere or in the past where concerned citizens made an impact on the handling of the situation to see what types of actions were successful for others? angelfish> next to none 27.07.2004 - 03:24 in response to angelfish: there is almost no media attention probably partially as a result of that, almost no "activist" response Icarus> Shepherd-Express 27.07.2004 - 04:28 To all concerned, Please email me with any incidents you personally have experienced of suburban (mequon/ozaukee) police harassment. I am working on a story for the Shepherd-Express dealing with whether or not, as I have heard many claims of, that Mequonites are afraid of their police. I wanna discover whether or not the Matthew Sheridan incident was an isolated and innocent, albeit fatal, incident of police neglegiance or only the most recent and henious in what is a habitual trand of suburban/mequon/ozaukee police harassment, profiling and abuse. Please email me at  esolochek@hotmail.com Thank you very much for your help. Evan> e-mail:: esolochek@hotmail.com Sheridan Response 28.07.2004 - 03:38 I think that the best response to the death of Matthew Sheridan is for residents of Ozaukee County to put pressure on the Ozaukee County District Attorney's office, urging them to file criminal charges against the police officers involved and their commanders. It is up to the residents of Ozaukee County to decide what level of police brutality they are willing to tolerate. Charles Shonat> Now what can we do?? 28.07.2004 - 17:05 In response to the last comment...It would be wonderful to have another protest/rally specifically to get signatures on a petition to oust encumbents who have allowed such lunacy to persist. It is my impression that few, if any, would be willing to sign their names despite how much they believe in our cause. I think the general sentiment that you will find is, frankly, people are going to be afraid to be identified. I firmly believe that the reason there were so few of Matthew's friends at the July 10th protest is that their parents had discouraged them kids from attending for fear of retaliation from the Mequon Police. You have to think about their ages...protest and political activism is generally a calling for them. The lines at Matthew's wake were non-stop for over three hours, Matt had a lot of friends...who were noticeably absent at the protest. There had to be a reason. I feel we must do more to insure that Matthew stays in the minds of those who have managed to survive. Laurie> bigger issue 29.07.2004 - 00:58 not to detract from what happened but from what he had done he should have been in the safe protective custody of a cell ff> We have no use for you!! 29.07.2004 - 08:38 FF, There are plenty of other forums to voice your narrow-minded opinion. This is a sacred place where we are gathered in support of justice. anon> lady of the falls 29.07.2004 - 15:17 listen. Matt was a dick and he was a menace. it was a accident and fuck him anyways. he hurt a lot of people and god gave him what he had coming sorry but someone had to tell the truth Mequonite in distress> And you are above him why? 29.07.2004 - 16:54 "A lie told often enough becomes the truth" Lenin anon> My Thoughts.... 29.07.2004 - 17:11 Laurie, you are absolutely correct. I’m sure many feared retribution and chose not to attend the protest. I’ve written to the Ozaukee County DA, Sandy Williams, to my alderman, and to Mequon’s mayor, Christine Nuernberg, voicing my concern about this case and the overall arrogance, as I see it, of the Mequon police. I don’t know what good it would do, but maybe if everyone would do something like that, or even write to E. Michael McCann, as the ‘accident’ did take place in Milwaukee County. One letter won’t do anything, but maybe if everyone would write and explain our concerns that justice will not be served in this case, someone will take notice. And as far as media covering, I would like to see this as a story on 48 Hours or 20/20. I sincerely believe it merits that kind of covering. An accident? Officer Klobukowski' made two mistakes that June 19th evening. His first was stopping the squad car after Matt was arrested and put in the backseat. So.. Matt was kicking, yelling, and spitting. So.. he was able to work his hands in front of himself. Those cars are equipped with steel reinforced cages for a reason. Let him kick and yell all he wanted. He was only hurting himself. It was only a short drive back to Mequon and Matt should not have been messed with until his arrival at the police station. I would think that it only stands to reason that the more direct contact you have with an agitated prisoner, the more dangerous the situation becomes. Klobukowski’s second mistake, as we know, was deadly. I have mixed feelings about what I think should happen to him. I honestly do not believe he intentionally meant to kill Matt, but I do believe he intended to make Matt as miserable and humiliated as possible. I absolutely do not believe he should continue his career as a police officer. Also, so much has been reported about Matt spitting, therefore the reason for putting the bag on his head in the first place. However, if you listen to the taped communication between the squads and the station, I only heard the officer report that Matt was ‘attempting’ to spit on officers. Sounds like they are making it out to be worse than it actually was, obviously to justify the officer’s actions to protect himself, and his fellow officers. I don’t know about anyone else, but I refuse to do business with Mequon Citgo. They are the ones who set this whole thing in motion. They refused to do business with Matt’s friend due to racial profiling, and then reported a false gas drive off, which by the way, I think they should be sited for. If you listen to their call to the police, they had no idea how much to report was even stolen. No wonder Matt threw such a tantrum! First they were rudely denied service, then accused by the same people of stealing gas. I would be irate too. Lynn> Finally a kind heart 29.07.2004 - 20:27 Lynn...First of all thank you for your support; secondly,it brings to mind a good point. Since this phone call to the police ultimately ended up being a direct cause of the events of that evening, we should arrange a protest, or, better yet, frequent protests on their busiest nights or days of the week to deter customers from frequenting that establishment. I personally would love to see them shut down. I do hope that there will be a price they have to pay for their involvement in Matthew's death. I know I seem very bitter but I am a mother of a 20 year old son (Who, by the way,has fond memories of Matt) I am a close friend of the family, I know what a wonderful father and mother and sister he had. I AM SO ANGRY THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ALL OF THEM and all of us. You know sometimes when there is nothing left to do but you feel deep down inside that you still have to do something to protect his memory you just keep doing...something, anything. This just can't continue to happen. If the Mequon Police aren't stopped dead in their tracks (purely a figure of speech) it is only a matter of time before they find their next victim that they will torment every day of their life until we see with our own eyes that history will continue to repeat itself. If I lived in Mequon and had kids at home, this would freak me out bad enough that I would flee the area. I will never let Matthew be forgotten:( Laurie> The Definition of Distress 30.07.2004 - 00:34 Dear Mequonite in "distress" Distress... do you know the meaning of the term? Webster's Dictionary defines it as pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind. Another definition describes it as a state of danger or desperate need. Correct me if I'm wrong but you live in Mequon. Last time I checked that was a pretty plush gig if you could get it. Don't you think "Distress" is just a little melodramatic? I mean, I understand that you probably have some sub-conscious need to draw attention to yourself, since you live in a city that is so self-absorbed that it thinks terrorists would definitely want to strike them before, say, Chicago. But really.... distress? Are you sure? That aside, here's a little demonstration in "distress". Please feel free to play along at home! Here's what you will need: 1 pair of handcuffs, 1 pair of leg shackles, and 1 SURVIVAIR 2000 hood (if you do not own a SURVIVAIR 2000 hood, you can substitute with a plastic bag.) You will need two people for this demonstration. Step 1: Place the leg shackls around each ankle and secure them tightly. Have your demonstration partner check them to ensure they are absolutely as tight as they can be without actually cutting through your flesh. Step 2: Have your demonstration partner secure the handcuffs around your wrists. (Hands behind your back. No cheating!) If you have secured them properly with the leg shackles you will be unable to bring them in front of you, no matter how you try. Step 3: Your demonstration partner will now secure the SURVIVAIR 2000 hood (or plastic bag) over your head without activating the oxygen. Have your partner double check that the seal is air tight around your neck. (If you are using a plastic bag, you may want to use duct tape to ensure that the seal is tight). This demonstration, done previously on Matthew Sheridan, should produce the following reaction. The air in your hood feels thin. Almost like you are on the verge of an asthma attack. This induces panic which causes you to use the remaining air very quickly. Your lungs start to ache, then feel like they are collapsing on themselves. It's actually excruciatingly painful. You will begin to kick and scream and cry. You will beg with the last inches of your life to be set free. And your demonstration partner will ignore you. Step 4: At the very last moment possible, your demonstration partner will remove the hood or plastic bag. Take a few moments to catch your breath. You may even need to vomit from the pain. Once you have stopped crying and your heart rate has returned to normal, then you can talk to me about distress. Until then, I'm really sorry that you live in a world with a vengeful God. Where people can tragically kill your loved ones with no repercussions. Because in a world like that, who is safe? Certainly not you. And God must already have a price on your hate. And when God finally decides to give you what "You have coming", and someone demands that what happened to was wrong and justice must be served... I will find the website fighting for your cause and I will print this message: listen. She was a bitch and she was a menace. it was a accident and fuck her anyways. she hurt a lot of people and god gave her what she had coming sorry but someone had to tell the truth and your loved ones will read it and say "Well, that was an awful thing to write, but she did say she was 'sorry' to say it in the last line." So thank you for your wise insight. I can't believe no one saw it this way before when you are clearly right.... How would we, Matt's closest friends and family, ever have gotten through this tragedy if we had kept thinking that Matt didn't deserve to die, that this was a horrible injustice. Thank you Mequonite in Distress for helping me see the light! I am of course being completely sarcastic, and actually think you are a stupid bitch. Anonymous> Ignore her... 30.07.2004 - 10:23 Dear Anonymous.. Don’t let the stupid, cruel & hurtful words of “Mequonite in Distress” cause anymore pain. Her opinion of Matthew means nothing to anyone. She obviously was a 'women scorned'. The world is full of ignorant people, and many live right here in Mequon, along with all the ‘oblivs’. Jase, Mequon> What kind of roll model did he have? 30.07.2004 - 11:38 Wasn’t Matthew’s father just arraigned on drug possession? Maybe Matt’s misbehavior was learned at home. Tom Y> Write to Sandy Williams!! 30.07.2004 - 18:34 I was in a conversation with someone today that said they had not heard any outrage from the community over this case, so obviously it's been forgotten... REALLY! Well.. let’s show our outrage with our words! If we really want to do something to find justice for Matt, we need to get on a letter writing campaign. I’ve read some really passionate letters in this post, and these need to be read by the people that have the power to do something. Write to Sandy Williams, the Ozaukee County DA. Tell her the standard needs to be set with this case and this type of abuse of power cannot be tolerated. Tell her you fear for your own safety and that of our kids. Have everybody you know write to her! You can email her at  Williams.Sandy@mail.da.state.wi.us. Let’s email her everyday! Inundate her with letters so we cannot be ignored. Write to E. Michael McCann. Some of the police officers involved were from towns in his county, plus the murder actually took place there. Write to Peg Lautenschlager and ask her to keep an eye on this case. They want outrage! Let’s show 'em outrage! Lynn> certain things don't matter 31.07.2004 - 04:05 Who cares what sort of background Matthew had? I know that its pretty obvious that the examples he had to follow seemed pretty shitty but its not like ANY of that is even close to legitimize a cop strangling him to death. None of that is even important, atleast not yet. Also i'm really appalled by "Mequonite In Distress", look MID, i realize you moved to Mequon to escape the harsh bind that is reality, but despite the Knight In Shining Armor Superhero image of cops that Mark Belling or Fox News or whatever is feeding you, what happened to Matthew Sheridan was OBVIOUSLY WRONG, and despite your probably closeminded and ill informed view on Matthew, it couldve been anyone. Icarus> think of who your defending 01.08.2004 - 17:44 listen up, 6 counts of sexual assult is not normal and maybe that mequeon girl was raped or something by him. he doesn't sound like the angel everyone remembers him by from the people i talked to who knew him. Plus i think its pretty funny that people are so quick to jump down her throat cause shes from a suburb. i bet almost all teh people writing on here are from suburbs (and white). Just cause yuou moved to teh safe and bohemian riverwest doesn't make you ghetto, or hardcore. peace out bitches Mario> Sexual Assult? 01.08.2004 - 19:10 He raped her 6 times? Four times at his house and twice at her house? Sounds like she was a pretty willing rapee. No one said he was an angel, but he didn't deserve to die like that. He deserved to go to jail and serve his time like anyone else. Joe K> cover of law 01.08.2004 - 19:19 completely innocent until completely proven guility unless the media and others judge you guility first and trash your name. there is no crueler tyranny than that which is exercised under cover of law. Jesse> Those who knew him... 01.08.2004 - 23:38 Obviously people have different feelings about Matt, personally, I miss him more than anything. To anyone who thinks that because of his past he deserved to die: who are you to judge? if you think you're so perfect then how come you have nothing better to do than sit around and judge otehrs??? Matt meant a lot to me, I'm not asking everyone to understand that, but just accept it and mind your own damn business. Matt obviously had his issues, but even after I moved 1,400 miles away, Matt was still there for me, ANYTIME I needed him, that's a true friend. At 3am when I was sad and lonely, Matt would sit an talk to me, or play Yahoo Go Fish for hours. That may sound stupid, but he meant so much to me, no one has the right to take that away. I love Matt despite of his past, because he always loved me. To the person who made the comment that maybe his behavior was learned at home, look how you're acting....rude, selfish, childish, and ignorant...is that what you learned at home? Matt's father wanted nothing but the best for his son and I cannot believe how disrespectful you are. I certainly hope thats not what you learned at home, the world doesn't need more peoplelike that. What happened to Matt was terrible, it's not something that should go unpunished, but from what I hear it will. "Taking action" is rather difficult for me, considering I live in FL, but it makes me so happy to hear that others are taking a stand for him. If anyone has any stories about Matt, or anything about him, feel free to e-mail me, I'd love to hear from you.  FlashQueen000@hotmail.com Laura> A different issue 02.08.2004 - 10:21 In response to Mario, I don't think people are defending Matt because of what he has done. The point nearly everyone has made is that what happened to him shouldn't happen to anyone, regardless of who they are. Justice is supposed to be blind, correct? That our country has always persecuted people based on various qualities (skin color, social class, political views and, in this case, criminal record) should clue us in to the reality of our justice system--but we should be fighting against this abomination, not supporting it because we don't like the person under the lens. NMC > I agree 02.08.2004 - 13:20 I agree with NMC, justice is suppossed to be blind, no matter who is under the lens. It doesn't matter what your personal feelings are for Matt, this shouldn't ahve happened to anyone, no matetr their past, skin color, sexuality, religion. Let's make sure what happened to Matt won't happen to anyone else.... Laura> e-mail:: Flashqueen000@hotmail.com Sandy Williams 02.08.2004 - 23:59 Hey guys, I wrote to Sandy Williams, but as Lynn said, one e-mail won't make a difference, either will two. Please write to her. Do it for Matt, do it for everyone who has lost their ives in situations like this, and do it for their friends and family. Her e-mail address is in a comment above, please write to her, it'll only take a few minutes and it would mean so much to so many people. Laura> e-mail:: FlashQueen000@hotmail.com blame the victim 04.08.2004 - 08:52 All this cyber trashing of Matt Sheridan at this time and in this space, seems to me a lot like "blame the victim," and a LOT like something the Mequon police might be fixated on at this point. Especially if they're preparing a defense in a perceived mammoth wrongful death lawsuit. Next thing you know they'll be hiring the Ku Klux Klan as publicists. Or have they already??? marco ps: maybe they should just snap out of it, refocus and go back to anthraxing places like Feingold's and Daschle's DC offices and stuff. marco> victim 04.08.2004 - 12:52 Victim ''one who is killed , injured, or subjected to suffering. ( Matthew Sheridan) Victor ''one who vanquishes an enemy'' {................} Jesse> To: Anonymous 04.08.2004 - 21:44 Anonymous, I was just curious if you knew Matt personally. Your comment above seemed very personal, like Matt was a close friend of yours. He was a close friend of mine also, I'd love to talk to you about Matt if your up to it.... Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com Anonymous 05.08.2004 - 00:07 Marco, You are a fucking idiot your conspiracy theories and crack pot schemes show you to be the almost middle aged loser that has nothing better to do than to try and boost his self esteem by knowing random fake useless "Facts" that are always peoples private jokes behind your back. stop being an idiot and get a grab on reality. and by the way, you as much a burden to the imc as you are helpful. bye Anonymous> good try though 05.08.2004 - 05:20 hey anonymous, I've got three words for your amateurish polemical and rhetorical attempt at creating divisiveness. cointelpro, cointelpro, cointelpro. Go back to gun interdiction or intelligence by the Dunkin Donuts dumpsters or something. marco> Distractions and Directions 05.08.2004 - 13:28 Anonymous and everyone~ The real burdon to IMC is when it is used as a personal vandetta / petty insult blog, instead of a forum for discussion. Though the communal nature of IMC allows open postings on whatever subject readers and writers desire, using IMC as a tool to insult simply alienates people who are looking for information and a place for positive discourse. That doesn't mean people can't disagree, even vociferously. But if we are genuinely interested in these issues our ideas, visions and strategies should take precidence over our distracting tendencies. I'm pleased that there has been so much discussion around the Sheridan issue. It is quite troubling, and having a community forum for public disourse is essential. Any ideas or stories they have about Matthew Sheridan or the larger issue of police repression and brutality continue to be welcomed. NMC> e-mail:: nciaccio@uwm.edu ... 05.08.2004 - 22:34 marco your sucha dumb shit "Cointelpro"> ...! 06.08.2004 - 11:00 Cointelpro you're so ineffective. marco> Homepage:: http://rboss.lod.com/~ati/ati130.html This is not the place... 06.08.2004 - 22:25 this is not the place to have you arguments. we're hear to discuss matt, not insult eachother Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com What about the cop? 08.08.2004 - 11:57 So, tell me about "administrative leave"...does this mean the cop has had the summer off with pay? >>>>>>>> What about the cop? 08.08.2004 - 11:58 So, tell me about "administrative leave"...does this mean the cop has had the summer off with pay? >>>>>>>> What's the latest 08.08.2004 - 13:47 I'm living in Canada now, but lived in Mequon a few years ago, and went to Homestead. I've been trying to keep up with this case, but the news hasn't been easy to come by. What's up? Any charges against the cop? I found it extremely convenient that they just happened to find a pipe near matt when they made the stop. Has anyone questioned that? Do we know if it even existed or could it have been a plant? If he knew they hadn't stolen gas and the pipe wasn't his, doesn't that explain his behavior on that day? It's been said that because of his combative behavior, he caused his own death. And there were 5 cops standing there when the hood was put on his head. You're telling me that none of them had any training? Lynn.. I especially like your thoughts and the idea of the letter writing campaign. If no one voices their displeasure with how this is handled, they are going to get away with it and it will happen again. To the Sheridan family... Very sorry for your loss. Next time I visit Wisconsin, I hope to see the town of Mequon renamed the town of Sheridan. You should own that town. A Ari > What can we do? 10.08.2004 - 19:23 Laurie... are you still out there?? I feel helpless here; I guess there's nothing more we can do. I've written tons of letters. I'm trying to get the attention of a primetime news show, however I don't know how the family would feel about something like that. I just feel like I want to do something, but at a total loss. It's fast approaching two months and I still can't get the horror of this kid's death out of my head. I'm afraid the longer it's taking Sandy Williams to come up with a decision, the easier she is going to go. Any thoughts? email me... Lynn> e-mail:: lindatc123@aol.com justification 14.08.2004 - 02:16 Cops need to stop being so spinless. If you want a discussion on the message board, stop making attacking individuals and lets have a discussion. I guess you know who will win this argument. It shows in your cowardice. It's probably pretty hard to accept facts that make your life meaningless. I can see where you're coming from. This is your profession and you have a lifestyle to support. Coercion is the central principle of all government. You know caring a gun makes it easier for people to agree with your interests. How do you justify this authority? Is it to uphold the image of america that was built up for you in kindergarden, an image that gets less true everyday of your life. You fight for slavery! Don't fucking talk about conspiracy theories to paint marco as some wacko. you're laws are a conspiracy theory. if you think the people that you make obey them had a say in any of them you're a fucking idiot. I guess this is kind of useless, but it's fun. hillary duff> frustration 23.08.2004 - 15:43 hey guys. i'm completely lost. i want to help matt and his family but i think i have run out of ideas. Does anyone have any? i'm frustrated and it's not getting any easier..... Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com Sorry 24.08.2004 - 08:34 Sorry there's nothing we can do to help Matt. All we can do now is sit and wait. When it's all said and done then we can continue to bring public attention to the atrocities that Mequon police have committed. Be patient. anonomous> he was a good guy as far as I could tell 02.09.2004 - 20:11 I went to high school with Matt. I didn't know him well at all, but all contact I had with him was positive. Was it pretty obvious he was on drugs? Yeah. Did he have a bad reputation? Yeah. but that's not important. If you ever talked to him he was a generally nice guy. That's what he should be remembered for. For all of those who think that it's ok that this tragedy happened because he's a felon: 1. He had drug convictions. So he was causing harm to himself. whoop de do. This shouldn't be a crime. 2. His "sexual assault" charges were statutory rape charges - that is he broke a societal norm. We assume (incorrectly) that 15 and 16 year old girls are not supposed and never want to have sex so anyone that has sex with them must be forcing them - total b.s. These charges alone show that the police were likely out to get him. This type of thing normally is never discovered by the police....but for some reason they found out in Matt's case. Plus, males are charged with statutory rape at a much higher rate than females. Why? Because it's ok for 15 year old boys to have sex, but not 15-year old girls(even though they are more sexually mature). 3. His robbery charges were probably legitimate. But it is assumed that the robberies were a result of his drug habit. If the drugs were legalized he wouldn't have to go to such drastic measures to get the money for his habit. The crooked justice system screws people over for these reasons constantly. 4. It just shouldn't matter to start with. Someone is dead. Nothing he ever did was deserving of death. Nothing. karen> I also knew him 03.09.2004 - 16:52 I remember Matt from High School. He wasn't any different than a lot of guys I knew. He was into drugs, which was apparent, but so were many of the kids I knew. I didn't know him very well, but I thought he seemed sad, and I always made an attempt to say hi when I saw him and he'd always smile. I remember he played in the AFS show several years ago and I kidded him about becoming a rock star and that I could say I knew him when. His death is a tragedy and I'm really concerned that nothing is going to be done to the cop that did it. Oh, there will be a law suit, but will there be any punishment? I think it's scary that of all the cops that were there that day, none of them had training with either the spit mask, or the one that was used. If they had, they would have known the difference. Sandy Williams wouldn't have thought twice about giving Matt the maximim sentence on his 'sexual assult' charge, but I'm pretty sure this cop will walk. That sends the message that sex is bad but murder is okay. Amy> 3 months 19.09.2004 - 16:41 hey guys. its been 3 months to the day that matt died. keep his memory alive as we continue to fight for him. keep your hopes up, i know i will. Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com The Inquest 20.09.2004 - 19:38 I just want to remind everyone to remember the Sheridans during this difficult time. Lynn> How many other lives will be ruined?? 21.09.2004 - 09:50 Honestly, How many people are we going to drag into this? I support the police department, I was a police officer myself, leaving the department 4 years ago. The reason I left? The negative atmosphere. I am not saying in any way that the death of Matt was right, or OK. However, I do agree with the previous statement that he probably should have already been behind bars. The death was wrong, absolutly, but nobody is seeing things through the police officers eyes. They have to deal with small time "punks" like Matt on a daily basis. Put yourself in those shoes. Have somebody kick at you, run from you, yell in your face, spit on you, for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, after 5 years, we'll see how much YOU can tolerate. As far as the comment "The backseat is re-inforced, all he's doing is hurting himself" Guess what, the windows are still glass, the door panels are still plastic, the seat are still flimsy vinyl. Go ahead, say "Let him destroy it, it's not worth a life." If we let every criminal destroy our squad cars, you'll be complaining about the hike in taxes next. Here's the lowdown, I know the Mequon officer involved, and honestly, I don't care for him much. But he did not TRY to kill Matt, but I do support his termination from police work, The other officers involved? I know them all, Everyone of them is a good family man (or in one case family-woman) If we are going to hold all of them responsible, AND the Citgo station responsible, than how about Matt's father. Obviously, the lack of good parenting helped get Matt into that situation in the first place. Great encouragement Dad! HERE SON, SNORT THIS. Just another tragic tale of wasted youth. Let's not leave out the Mequon PD, who failed to provide adequate training in the masks. But if we blame them, lets look at the 9/11 terrorists, who attacked our country and made us all so paranoid that we felt we needed these useless masks in the squad cars. Where does it end. Citdo should not have called a false complaint, the police SHOULD NOT have put THAT hood over his head. But MATT, and MATT ALONE, should not have acted the way he did either, he had a crack pipe, he got arrested for it, he would probably went home later that day. Fire the Mequon officer, get rid of the masks (they're useless anyway) Sue the Mequon P.D. and be done. But if you sue for millions, prepare for a huge tax hike, Hey, the money for all this training has to come from somewhere, and the P.D. is about to have their pockets emptied. You asked for it, You'll have it! Jason> e-mail:: jflegner@bergstromauto.com Stupidity 21.09.2004 - 15:52 Jason, You couldn't be more wrong! Thank God you removed your narrow minded self from the police force before you killed somebody. Empathetic> In Reply to ex-cop Jason 21.09.2004 - 22:39 Jason--- I support the police department as well, however, someone died in police custody, and accident as it may have been, someone must be held culpable. Just like the guy driving down the street that is distracted by something and takes his eyes off the road for a second, and crashes into another car and kills someone. It was an accident, he had no intention of killing anyone, but he did, and that person is John Q. Public, and he would be held responsible for the death. So why should this be any different? In fact a police office is paid to serve and protect and should be held to a higher standard. And I’m not disagreeing with you about the steel reinforced cages in the squad cars, but the cars we were shown when new ones were needed were totally reinforced, and had bars on the glass windows and plastic panels. In fact that is why we were told they were so badly needed, to safely transport all the 'violent' criminals here in Mequon. I think taking a swing at Matt’s father is hitting below the belt, and Matthew reputation shouldn’t enter into any of this. The fact that he had run-ins with the law makes it more imperative that someone be held accountable. The cops didn’t like him, and if they can go around and pick and choose whom they don’t like to ‘accidentally’ kill, then we could all be in trouble. And you know, Matt actually would be behind bars now. He had a court appearance schedule for June 29, and he would have gone to jail, but he was killed and couldn’t make it. Now speaking of blaming terrorists, I like that, but don’t you think it’s a little arrogant to think Mequon, Wisconsin would be a target for a terrorist attack? The Mequon Police department was responsible for providing training on every piece of equipment used. They did not. They are responsible. What is ironic to me is that of all the things that Matt had done that had gotten him into trouble in the past, on that day, the day he died, he didn’t do anything really wrong. He was protesting his arrest because he was being accused of stealing gas, which he hadn’t. They said a crack pipe (not drugs, mind you, only a pipe) was found near where he was sitting; how do we know it was his, or if it even existed? If you were accused of something you knew you hadn’t done, would you just go quietly? And the spitting… he was shoved, face down into the grass and dirt. He got a mouth full of grass and dirt and his hands were cuffed behind his back. How else was he to get this grass and dirt out of his mouth?? And with 5 cops in very close proximity, no matter which direction he spit, someone was bound to get spit on. And I live in Mequon. The money for the law suite will have to come from somewhere, so I’m aware that my taxes will surely go up to compensate. But hey, if we can afford to buy fancy chemical masks and give a cop the summer off with pay, we’ll come up with the cash. The one thing I would like to know, Jason, do you have children? If you do, I hope you never have to feel the pain of losing a child. Can you even imagine the violent suffering and horror Matt went through? But then, he was just a small time punk, no real loss, right? Right, not until it's your kid. Lynn> Jason ex cop 22.09.2004 - 00:15 so you new the cop. Do you know Luzinski? See mequon police officer friendly, Yahoo search, (kick your ass and get away with it) what's your opinion? Jill> Jason speaks again 22.09.2004 - 10:46 Here goes my responses to everyone, bear with me! Empathetic-as a police officer, one of the first tihings tuaght is the most powerful word in the english language. Empathy. With all due respect, if you thing I am SO wrong about everything, please discuss, but saying that I am wrong and you are right is hardly Empathetic. Your seeing things through your point of view only. Lynn-First off, thank you very much for not turning this into a mudslinging fest. You had the opportunity to rip me apart, but you kept your arguement toned to a very professional debate. Thanks again. If this sounds a bit disorganized, It's becuase I am typing fast, I have to get to work. Thank you for supporting the police department, I to agree that someone is to blame, but my arguement was simply that there are so many factors to place blame on. Yes the police officer has responsiblility in this, fine, I have no problem with that, but I don't think sending him to prison is going to solve anything either. The Mequon Police department could be to blame, they did not purchase the masks, nor did they ask for them, they were distributed by federal grants after 9/11. BUT training for them, is Mequons responsibility, and not to throw stones, but lack of training is only one of the Mequon P.D.'s problems. I agree that their department needs some serious looking into, and I've only lived here for 3 years. So just to clarify, you won't see me shedding tears if the M.P.D. gets sued, they may have it coming. Moving on...Matt WAS responsible for his actions, stealing gas? NO, have drug paraphenelia? YES, and as long as there is resin in the pipe, he could have even faced possession. By the way, I have seen several of the squad car videotapes, and yes the pipe was found where he was sitting, and it was entered into evidence. I think now is a good time to bring up the parents. I don't think talking about his father is a cheap shot at all! Matt's behavior, not just this day, but for years, stems from poor parenting, and a poor example at home. If you want to hold the officer and the P.D. responsible, you have to look at EVERYONE that made the situation what it was. I still firmly believe that Matt got himself into that situation. Was it right? NO Do I think the Police officer should be held 100% accountable? NO And the spitting the grass and dirt out? COME ON, listen to what your saying, that's pretty thin, that's like saying that I didn't punch the guy, he ran into my fist. I do have children, and I agree, it was a horrible way to die. So? We send the cop to jail and orphan his kids too? That will make it right. What I found astounding, is that out of the three people that replied to my letter, no one commented on the conditions of being the police officer. I DARE anyone to try to arrange a weeks worth of ride alongs. (I believe Beloit offers ride alongs to anyone) See what constant name calling, spittting and physical abuse do to the average cop, the level of patience lowers a bit (sarcasm). As an ex-officer myself, If Matt were putting up the tissy fit that he was, in MY car, I would have done the same, full restraints, and a spit hood. Note: I did say SPIT HOOD, not the bio mask. Which why once again, brings us to...WHO WAS AT FAULT. Numero Uno-MATT 2. the department 3. the officer 4. Matt's homelife 5. post 9/11 society, and believe me, the list could go on. I'm not lessening anything because Matt was a punk, it was a freak accident, plainly put, There is a million different variables that could have changed everything, for example...Good behavior in the convenient store. A different officer that responded, etc. If were going to blame someone, we need to blame EVERYONE! Thank you again Lynn for the dialog, I hope my response isn't too offensive, look forward to hearing back from you. And Jill-I did check out the website, that is something that cop who has a hardened and strange sense of humor would laugh at, but certainly inappropriete for his website, Personal website or not. I agree with you. Jason> Lynn! .. and her two-cents worth 22.09.2004 - 18:51 Jason---- I absolutely understand where you are coming from. I actually was married to a cop a few years back, in Oklahoma (a town of 65,000 people), so I know a little about the lifestyle. However, Oklahoma was not the ‘police state’ that I see here in Wisconsin. It was a few years ago, but for the most part, the cops were people friendly, and that may just be because people in general are more friendly the further south you go. (No offense meant to Wisconsinites!) I absolutely appreciate the dangers and the disrespect that a police officer faces everyday. But on the other side of the coin is the disrespect that I have seen given to the general public by police officers here. The Mequon police in particular, seem to always be looking for someone to step out of line so they can bust them, even law abiding citizens. I realize the people who live in Mequon wouldn’t settle for anything less than an aggressive police force…(get those wild, drunk, drug addicted rich kids off the streets!) However, those same people would be yelling to high heaven if their kids got busted, or themselves. How about the lady that was having a birthday party for her daughter… I don’t know all the particulars… but the mother ended up getting handcuffed and carried out of her own house and hauled to jail. Yup, I know there were underage drinkers running around hiding in closets and so forth, but really, a little overkill don’t you think? The lady ended up losing her job, her reputation, and ..I don’t know, I just think there should be another way to deal with stuff like that. I just think the cops around here are over zealous, and it could be because they’re bored maybe?? And what about the offense of DWBIM (Driving while black in Mequon).. absolute profiling going on there don’t you think! But then again, the fine people of Mequon want to keep the ‘undesirables’ out of our city!! As far as this case with Matt Sheridan, I’m sorry, but this breaks my heart and I am very passionate about it. This kid absolutely made some very bad choices in his life, but he did not deserve this. I don’t pretend to know any of the circumstances surrounding his troubled past, but he obviously had a lot of people around him that loved him and cared what happened to him. And I just don’t think this case is being given the seriousness that it deserves. This kid is dead! His family is devastated and their lives are shattered forever. I don’t know how old your kids are, but sometimes you can be the best parent in the world, and you can still lose them to peer pressure and drugs. They end up in some parallel universe for a while, but they eventually come back. Matt won’t be coming back. Let’s just say, ..Matt had been an honor grad from Homestead; never been in trouble with the law, and was home for the summer from, let’s say.. Boston College (fine college that it is), and this happened to him. Same circumstances. He’s a white guy, and he happens to be with 3 of his minority friends. They go to the Citgo station to buy some snacks and get gas, but the attendant at the station does a little racial profiling and tells them to leave and he won’t sell anything to them. (I’ve been in that station and they are not very friendly fellows). I’m sure this is going to have an adverse effect on the demeanor of these four individuals. So somebody threw his potato chip bag at the attendant, who then decides to accuse them of stealing gas, so calls the cops. Cop pulls Matt and his friends over, (not smart to drive around without a tag on the car!). Not sure why/if the car was searched, or why/if Matt would just have a crack pipe lying there, but anyway he is now being accused of stealing gas and having this crack pipe just lying there for the world to see. (You said you saw the video, but I still don’t know how it got there or if it was his). So he’s told he’s going to be arrested, and Matt, even though the nice young man with a squeaky clean reputation that he is, throws a fit. Starts kicking and yelling and spitting (I don’t believe the real Matt was accused of spitting until he had the grass in his mouth, which, by the way I did take offense with your “Come on, that’s pretty thin”, what would you do? I think any reasonable person would spit out a foreign object, and being surrounded by 5 cops,.. yikes! Somebody is liable to get hit, purposely or ‘accidentally’. My point in all this is I believe because it happened to be Matthew Sheridan, who had a dirty past, it's turning out to be lucky for the cops. What if it had been my make believe Matt who had a very promising future, from this prominent family, no record, but was pissed as hell that he was being arrested for a two-bit charge. I know I keep making points, but my other point is this could have been anybody's kid, it could have been my kid and I can very easily put myself in the Sheridan’s position. Matt was to blame for many things that were going wrong with his life, but I will not blame him for his own death. The thing is I can understand why he reacted the way he did. He had so many run-ins with the police; the kid couldn’t even back out of his driveway without getting a ticket! He was obviously a target, and this I know from first hand knowledge. The cops didn’t like him and loved to bust him every chance they got. He had dug himself into this hole with no possible easy way out; trying to redeem himself was going to be a long, arduous journey, but I believe that is the direction he was going. He just wasn’t given enough time. He was only 20 years old. So just do me a favor, and take off your cop glasses for just a minute and try to see all this through my point of view. I don’t know for sure what I think should be done to the cop, but he shouldn’t be able continue his career as a police officer. He screwed up. People get fired for screwing up in the corporate world all the time for a lot less. I will never understand how out of 5 cops, not one of them thought that maybe putting this vinyl bag over this kids head might be detrimental. Matt told them he couldn’t breath. I wonder if the memory of Matt begging for his life in that back seat of that squad haunts Officer Klobukowski. What state do you think his psyche is in? Is he fit to even perform efficiently as a police officer? Lynn> Still asking why and what if... 23.09.2004 - 10:32 Hey Jason, A couple more things that I wanted to ask you. I understand that Officer Klobukowski had 7 or 8 years on the force, and I’m sure of the other officer involved, some were veterans. So, am I to understand that this is the first incident in all their careers that a spit mask was needed? Obviously the case if none of them knew the difference between the two. Apparently none of them had encountered anyone as cantankerous and unruly as Matt Sheridan. That is great to know! ..because I guess we can all sleep better at night knowing that Matt was most violent criminal that has been arrested in the North Shore area! (I’m being cynical, but do you understand where I’m coming from??) Also you blame Matt’s father for poor parenting. What would have happened if he had done this to Matt? Lynn> Jason...Again 23.09.2004 - 10:40 You know Lynn, I think you and I would actually agree on 80% of the circumstances in this case. I to believe that there needs some sort of an internal audit of the Mequon P.D. They do seem to be awfully bored, and possibly overstaffed, you can't turn a corner with seeing two of their squad cars parked next to each other, talking about last nights Brewer game. I too believe that Citgo should POSSIBLY get cited (I have to see more facts before I commit to that one). I agree 100% that this is a horrible tragedy, despite the past of the victim. I like your hypothetical situation about an honor student going to an Ivy league school, but if that upstanding citizen had a crack pipe on him, and resisted arrest, things probably would have turned out the same. Thats just the situation that the P.D. was put in. Did they have it out for Matt, hey, every cop who works 48 hours a week in the same town knows who the trouble makers are, of course they are going to watch him like a hawk, what do you want the police to do, turn thier head and say, "Leave him alone, he's trying to change!" Not to keep bringing up his father, but it's not a matter of porr parenting, or not watching their son. It that dad probably got his son into the liestyle that he was. John's cocaine conviction wasn't ten years ago. It was six months ago! I'm just saying, there just seem to be too many variables to place the blame on the officer alone. Like I said in my past statements, I know the cop, really don't care for him much, he made a very stupid mistake, but many many stupid mistakes is what lead to the whole event. It's not entirely the officers fault, that's all I'm trying to say. Once again, if we blame the officer, we need to blame everyone. Including Matt, his family, the police department, etc. Jason> Jason to Lynn 23.09.2004 - 11:12 OK, Let's try to see what we all agree on First off, the officer- I say fire him, stupid mistake, real stupid, especially if their were warnings on the bag containing the mask. Obviously, he was probably getting it out in a hurry, and may or may not have seen it, but we can specutate on every detail of this case. Anything more that firing? How about never work in law enforcement again. I stand behind that. Jail time? I can't commit to that, once again, there are too many other factors to put THAT much blame on him alone. Do we agree on this? Even Somewhat? Jason> For What It's Worth 24.09.2004 - 07:55 There’s something happening here; What it is ain’t exactly clear; There’s a man with a gun over there; Telling me I got to beware There’s battle lines being drawn; Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong; Young people speaking their minds; Getting so much resistance from behind What a field day for the heat; A thousand people in the street; Singing songs and carrying signs; Mostly say, hooray for our side Paranoia strikes deep; Into your life it will creep; It starts when you’re always afraid; You step out of line, the man come and take you away TJ> Ignorance is piss 24.09.2004 - 08:42 Unfortunately due to the possibility of future trials I am limited as to what I can say. When it is all said and done I will be the first to post an article describing to you what kind of parent John Sheridan was to Matthew. What I'd like to clear up right now is that there was no cocaine conviction...check your records before you start spreading lies. Last I knew that was slander. Maybe they could add you to the list! anonomous> Public Records 24.09.2004 - 09:32 Dear Mr. Slander In fact, if you check Wisconsin Public records, you will see for yourself, that John was arrested on 1-03-2004 and pleaded guilty on 7-20-2004 to possession of marijauana, and possesion of cocaine, he recieved 18 months probation. I know that doesn't have much to do with the case, but WOW what an example he sets. Jason> No slander intended 24.09.2004 - 10:57 Jason is right about the drug charge. John Sheridan pled guilty-no contest and it is public record so saying it isn't slander if it's true. That doesn't mean he was a bad father but if he was doing stuff like that it probably did look ok to matt and may of been the reason he was into it to Whatever and maybe more behind it, and nobody knows all the facts either but just wanted to say there was a conviction and it is public record rob> Comment to Jason 24.09.2004 - 12:53 I want to make a comment to Jason I understand what your saying about Matt being responsible for putting himself in the situation, not on the day this all happened because this whole thing smells like harassment but all the trouble he had gotten himself into was his fault but he was being held responsible for everything he did I know he had to shell out a lot of bucks for all the tkts and arrests So, if he was being held responsible for his actions why isn’t this cop? Matt made a lot of mistakes, but he never killed anybody as far as I know. a friend of Matts> Mequon Cops with time on their hands 27.09.2004 - 16:39 Jason.. In response to your comment...""Did they have it out for Matt, hey, every cop who works 48 hours a week in the same town knows who the trouble makers are, of course they are going to watch him like a hawk"""" So while the cops were busy following Matthew Sheridan around and watching him like a hawk, who was going after the really bad guys and keeping our city safe? Lynn> Ah, They were 28.09.2004 - 10:40 Lynn- Come on, were talking about Mequon, Matt and John WERE the "really bad guys." What do you want them to do, chase the "druggies" OOPS, guess they were. Oh, wait, They should chase the child molesters...Damn, looks like they did that too! How about the drunk drivers...oh, hey, nevermind, they got 'em, what about the theives....Yep, they been busted. My point is, you can't tell the cops to lay off and go after the "real criminals." In a white collar area like Mequon, they ARE the real criminals. And the police department isn't "racial profiling." Trust me, as an ex-cop myself, there isn't much racial profiling that goes on. HOWEVER, we DO profile, absolutly. If I were to see a beat up 1987 pontiac 6000 in a neighborhood that has a minimum of $800,000.00 houses, GUESS WHAT? that's a stop. If you lived in that neighborhood, wouldn't you want that? I know your going to say "that's not right." But your probably the same person that says that cops don't stop enough crimes from happening. Jason> Too much 05.10.2004 - 23:03 This is ALL too much. Who cares about Matt's past, or his father's??? The fact is that Matt is dead, he's gone. We can't bring him back, we can't change what happened, and we can't change his past. Matt was a very close friend of mine and I want the truth to come out just as much as the next person, but all that matters is that justice must be served. PLAIN and SIMPLE. It doesn't matter who killed who, or if it was an "accident," all that matters is that someone made some terrible decisions that ended a life. That's all there is to it. It could have been ANYONE, but so few people seem to understand that. Stop prying for details, stop trying to "expose" his past, we all know it. Anyone who has any knowledge of this case or him should know this all already-so lets lay it to rest. All that matters is that someone needs to be held responsible for this, the peron who physically placed the device on Matt that DID kill him. My words and actions can't bring Matt back, that's a harsh reality, it's something that so many of his friends and family are still dealing with on a daily basis. I'm not asking for people to excuse his past, but it doesn't matter....because as I've already said, THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYONE. Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com Round and round we go 06.10.2004 - 10:51 This brings us back to the same thing. You want justice, obviously, we all do, and I'm not standing behind the officer, fire him, fine him, whatever. But guess who's responsible for getting himself in the position to have ANTHING put over his head! Why is that so hard to accept. Everyone keeps saying "this is something that never should have happened." Hey no kidding! Matt shouldn't have broken the law! He should have acted like a mature adult in the citgo station! He shouldn't have had a past with the police department! Matt MADE the officer do his job, unfortunatly, he did it poorly, and horrible consequences came out of it. SO WE SHOULD HANG THE COP, THAT'S IT, THAT WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING! After all, I got a speeding ticket when I was 18, so they've had it out for me! This abuse of power has to stop, I saw the officers handcuffing a burgler last weekend, I bet they brought him back to the station and pistol whipped him like the nazi's they are! LET'S PROTEST! ANARCHY! ANARCHY! Jason> Pay backs a b*tch 06.10.2004 - 22:54 OK, so you feel that Matt did this to himself, well, I guess he's already got his punishment, he was killed for his mistakes. I think that's a little harsh, don't you? Matt's mistakes never killed anyone, and with his court date that was coming up he would have paid for his mistakes, obviously that's not good enough though. Obviously our society feels that its OK to kill someone "accidently" as long as they "deserved it." Not ok, what did he deserve...jail time-yes, fines-yes, death-no. But I guess that doesnt matter anymore because it was an "accident." Laura> Sheridan was a badddddddd kid 07.10.2004 - 00:43 Matthew Sheridan, ah how can I start. When I first heard of matt it was when he had the band "Super Opus". I thought they were pretty good they sang some pretty catchy tunes. But I heard they were some baddddd dudes, always getting high on pot before their concerts and small shows and just being pranksters. As Matt grew tired of the music the band eventually broke up and he became into the whole counter culture. He hooked up with a kid named Nick S. I will not reveal his last name but he was a young russain lad about 2 years younger than Sheridan. Sheridan and him spent countless hours smoking marijuana in each others backyards. They realized their parents didn't much care so they took it right into their own bedrooms and smoked in there. One day before a football game I recall Sheridan had "run away" from his house and parents and the police were after him. He had set up a tent in Nick's backyard. They had a fire pit and even wooded logs and planks to sit on. That night they smoked marijuana and got really high. They built a giant bonfire and obviously attracted Nick's mother. The mother wondered what they were doing outside and Nick simply told her it was alright. Sheridan frequently ditched school and never wanted anything out of his life. Nick and Sheridan spent much time together before Sheridan started coming out of control. He was stealing and trying harder drugs like cocaine. One day him and Nick broke into Nick's next door neighbor's house and stole all the money in the VERY OLD person's wallet. They continued their crimes and continued their drug habits. Nick seemed to start cleaning up and seemingly stopped hanging out with Sheridan. Sheridan was lonely, no one wanted to befriend him, he was scary and a bad kid. He went online and seeked friendships there. One girl he came all the way out to west bend to party with she ditched him that night because he was scary. He continued his steady decline into what seemed to be depression. He stopped attending school completely and no one is sure if he even graduated. Probably not. He started hooking up with REAL drug dealers. When I say real I mean middle aged men not teenagers. He was lugging around with inner city addicts from South Milwaukee and West Allis. He found cocaine to be quite a pleasing drug and did it quite often. So one day they looked very shady at a gas station. The Mequon Citgo. The Middle Eastern Man knew something was going on seeing the seemingly glazed eyes of these individuals. He did what he thought was right. He informed the police. The police came and found Sheridan with the 3 other drug dealers. They were pulled over in their junker car. Sheridan was high in the back seat. The police had definite probable cause to search the car and found the cocaine pipe. Sheridan was taken into custody. He was drunk and high on cocaine. He was kicking and screaming and becoming psychotic. The police man feared for his safety so he restrained the man. He needed more assistance so he asked the female officer from Mequon to help him. Later he received help from the surrounding communities of Fox Point and Bayside. Sheridan was spitting and kicking and the officer thought it'd be a good idea to avoid this spit. He put a spit shield over Matt's head. He had NO, absolutely NO clue that this was a SURVIVAIR2000 and ACCIDENTLY sufficated Matthew. He died later. He had it coming to him. He would have been in jail for most the rest of his life on all these felony counts of sex crimes and robbery. a non> I can't side with this guy 07.10.2004 - 10:30 Now, I may be defending the officers, and I believe that Matt put himself in that situation, but Matt didn't "get what was coming to him." Certainly he was a bad kid, but many youths have been in those shoes, lonely depressed, experimenting with drugs, but he didn't meet any guidelines for the death penalty, and the police department certainly isn't the blood thirsty gestopo that plays the role of judge, jury, and executioner either! Please people, don't group me in the same group as A NON. I'm not saying it was totally Matt's fault, and he did not deserve to die because he was a "loner" or depressed, I'm just trying to get people to see that this wasn't JUST the cops fault. The cop did make a mistake, but Matt did too, by resisting, it was a freak accident, The officer should be terminated from the department, but that's about it. People want to hang the officer out to dry. Let me present this question. If you were the cause of a car accident, the actual CAUSE (deviated lanes, ran a light, etc.) and you hit and killed a guy who way driving drunk, what kind of penalty do you think you would get. A citation, and maybe your insurance company would drop you, but that's about it. Jason> to: A NON 07.10.2004 - 16:34 You are obviously not very familiar with Matt as a pason, but very familiar with his reputation. I've known Matt for years and it's obvious to EVERYONE that yes, he did drugs. You said that everyone was scared of him and he had no friends, thats completely untrue. Matt had TONS of friends, but obviosuly you were too busy stereotyping him to notice. So many people loved Matt, I would know, I'm one of them. So before you sit there and think that "you know how it is," maybe you should get your story straight because you honestly sound like an idiot. Jason: I do agree with many of you points of view. I agree with you abotu the cop, but it looks like nothing will be done. I don't know...I get myself all worked up about this but nothings going to change. But I'm sure taht people are not categorizing you with "a non." Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com Absolute OUTRAGE!!! 08.10.2004 - 15:19 After listening to the audio on the news today with Matt repeating over and over "I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I have asthma, I can't breathe" it makes me realize that the cops involved are uncaring subhumans who are all very personally responsible for (1)ignoring his pleas for help (2)his painful death (3) complete and utter disregard for human life and, last but not least... (4) extraordinary and blatant STUPIDITY. Each one of them should lose their job and hopefully each one of them will at some point be tortured in the manner that they tortured Matthew, daily would be my preference. Even a 6 year old child would be concerned if someone told them they couldn't breathe. I have never seen a more ignorant group of cold hearted individuals in my life yet these are the people the community chooses to "protect" them and their families. I think Mequon and the surrounding communities need to put a warning sign under their municipalities name stating ... WARNING: Enter at your own risk our police force acts out their own aggression using excessive force, antagonism and has proven to be able to get away with murder. If you have children with you do not leave them unattended". Sheryl> Have you been there Sheryl? 11.10.2004 - 10:40 From a guy who's been there, trust me when I say, that everytime you arrest someone, the handcuffs are "breaking their arms" the pepper spray has "blinded them permenantly" and any kind of restraining hold is causing them "intense pain!" These guys hear this crap all day long. Are they really going to believe it everytime a perp says their uncomfortable, NO! And if they did, you people would complain about how stupid and gullible the cops were! And to wish torture on the cops? Who's the heartless one here? Jason> Tough job, we know, we know..... 11.10.2004 - 17:22 You know what… shut up Jason! So you were a cop and you know all there is to know about everything to do with being a cop and what a miserable, disrespected job is it. I hear the same thing from my teacher friends. If it’s that bad and it’s to the point where you are totally void of human compassion …then go into another profession! But stop making excuses for these idiot keystone cops. Because of their un-freakin’ believable stupidity, this kid is dead, AND.... THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT!! You know, maybe this is a great profession to be in after all… you can screw up this badly, summer off with pay, no punishment, and you get to keep your job! Lynn> Your right 11.10.2004 - 17:44 Your absolutly right Lynn, all the cops out there who are disrespected and sick of being scape goats, should up and quit. Yeah...I'm sure you would see a lot of cops on the street at that point. Oh wait, then I'm sure the East side liberals out there would scream that there weren't enough cops to do the job. You know, I bet they tried to kill Matt, I mean, that's what you guys are making it sound like. I bet they all got together down at Dunkin' Donuts, and plotted this out...Even the Citgo people were in on this. If you watch the tapes real carefully, you can see the officer slip a crack pipe out of his sleeve and drop it on the floor of the car, just so they could arrest him. Then I bet they put tacks on the rear seat of the cruiser so that on the camara, it looked like Matt was struggling, when in fact, we was wincing in pain. Then they hog tied him, shoved compost down his throat, and when he started to spit it out, they all smiled and winked at each other as they placed the feared "death bag" over his head. The rest is a giant government conspiricy. Alright Lynn, I tried being nice, and empathetic, but now you've just ticked me off. How can you tell ME to shut up, call my responses stupid, I'm not the guy who wants to destroy the lives of 5 professional, law abiding, fathers, husbands, family-oriented, church-going, upstanding members of society, because an lawful arrest they made ACCIDENTALLY (fact) killed a kid who wouldn't have amounted to a cup of piss anyway? I said it before, and I'll say it again, he didn't deserve to die, but give it rest people. Your not going to change a damn thing at this point, all you can do is complain about what happened, boo hoo, they got away with MURDER, please, if Matt were still alive, he probably would have killed someone, I bet you would all be behind him then too right? Jason> Of course I'm right 11.10.2004 - 19:23 Come on Jason, now you’re just being silly. No one is insinuating conspiracy and I NEVER called your responses stupid. I told you before, I think you make a lot of sense and you’ve helped me understand things more clearly. I’ve been out of the country and just got back and only just heard the audios. Sorry,.. I happen to be very emotional and terribly sad after listening to Matt’s last words. Unlike you, I don’t have to TRY to be nice or empathetic, it’s just the way I am, and if these law abiding, God fearing, church-going professionals are such wonderful people, why are there so many jokes going around all the cop shops about this? And speaking of destroying lives… what about the Sheridans? So a cop loses his job; how can that even compare to losing a child? Lynn> Accident? 11.10.2004 - 21:02 I find it hard to believe that the previous dealings that the ofucker had with Matt weren't looked at more closely. I think he had it out for the kid. The fact that none of those cops ever had the opportunity to use a spit hood at any time in the past is difficult to believe. With all their racial profiling stops they must have had some pretty pissed off prisoners in the back of their squad car. One might think spitting would be "par for the course". During the inquest the departments who had been trained on the Survivair 2000 all claimed they didn't recognize it because in the training the hood was BLUE. Are they really not able to think for themselves? This bullshit coupled with the fact that he was telling them he couldn't breathe...even the most stupid person might have thought it was being caused by the plastic bag over his head don't you think? Oh that's right you were a cop. Former mequonite> Take a walk in my shoes 12.10.2004 - 18:40 I’m a cop from a large metropolitan city and I’ve been reading all this stuff about this Sheridan kid, I also have relatives that live there in the Milwaukee area and was visiting them over the weekend. I just want to make a couple of comments here. How many squads were tied up with this punk? 3? 4? I thought, this kid must have been some bad ass. But then I saw a video of the arrest and he looked like somebody’s kid brother. Must of weighed 130. If anybody in my department ever called for backup for a dude like that you ‘d be laughed off the force. I’m a cop and I defend other cops, but come on. This was overkill, and I mean that literally. This kid was armed with, what? a crack pipe? Didn’t look like he was putting up much of a fuss when he was arrested, makes it look like Barney Fife stirred him up a little after he got him in the car. My car gets the shit kicked out of it daily, but once you put ‘em in there, you don’t take them out and screw with them. And the spitting and yelling? I use duct tape and haven’t lost a prisoner yet. Sometimes just talking to them like they're humans calms them down. You treat them like animals, they act like animals. I think all the cops in these small towns should have to spend a few weeks on the streets in LA, NYC, Philly, Miami, Houston, just to see what the bad guys really look like. I would be bored to death just chasing punks around. TW from NYC> JASON 12.10.2004 - 21:05 He wouldn't "have amounted to a cup of piss." I can't even believe that not knowing him you can sit there and be so narrow-minded and judgmental. And no, Matt would not have killed someone. I can't even imagine how you can sit there and make such rude, insulting comments about someone you didn't even know, someone who was one of MY BEST friends. Until that post of yours I honestly thought that you made sense on a lot of your feelings, but this just showed how wrong you can be. Matt never killed anyone so what the hell did he do to deserve this???? NOTHING. His mistakes would have deserved jail time, and he would have served it, so don't think for one minute that this doesn't matter. This matters to the people who loved him, and there are a lot of them out there. Don't think for one minute that your better than him in any way.... Laura> Unbelievable! 14.10.2004 - 16:46 I'm a little dissapointed in this whole conversation. Jason really seems to be the only one making valid points (not like the conspiricy theory folks), he was empathetic to everyone's view, yet he's holding his ground on his own. I thought Lynn was making a lot of sense also, until the whole "shut up" remarks. This IS independent media, I thought there would be a little more sharing of ideas and thoughts as opposed to taking sides and ripping on eachother. As for Jasons last statement, it sounded extreme, but no worse then most of the other posts speaking out against the police department. After being hammered like he has been, I don't blame him for saying those things. Kudos Jason, fight the good fight! Sarah> Thank you 14.10.2004 - 16:51 Thanks Sarah, I'm really not trying to turn this into a us vs: them situation, just trying to help others see the WHOLE situation, but I guess I can't please everyone. Jason> Time Out! 14.10.2004 - 20:04 Excuse me there, Sarah, but who have I personally ripped on? I will continue to absoultely rip on the Mequon Police Dept. This is the worst, but not the first negitive situation they've brought on themselves. I won't apologize to anyone for that. I’ve been listening to and sharing thoughts here for over 3 months. And by the way, I really love everyone’s use of the word empathetic! However, quoting Jason…. “a kid who wouldn't have amounted to a cup of piss anyway”, ..geez, I’m just kinda wondering if you really know the meaning of the word! And hey,.. Jason and I have been buds from way back; we disagree on a few things now and again, but we’re pretty much on the same side. And come on Jason, don’t be mad at me… you know I still love ya! I told you I was sorry! I had just seen the tapes, and I just can’t believe anyone could listen to them and not come away thinking… how could this guy, a trained police officer, have this once highly agitated kid right in his back seat, who suddenly becomes quiet and motionless, yet not realize that he was in distress? Guess no one will really know exactly what happened during that 15-minute drive back to Mequon. And don't get excited... not speaking conspiracy here! Just that there are still a lot of unanswered questions. And don't get me started on what a joke the inquest was. Again, and I’m sorry in advance Jason, but I’m gonna say it… he may not have intentionally killed him, but it sure looks like he intentionally let him die. And did ya know it’s now reported that he did, in fact, have training with the spit mask? Yeah, ..and when asked why he couldn’t tell the difference or why he didn’t read the label he said he didn’t have the time. When asked why he didn’t have the time when he had plenty of help restraining young Sheridan, he ‘declined’ to answer. This is part of the internal investigation! This is how arrogant this guy is! So if I seem to be personally ripping on him, you’re absolutely correct! Lynn> tonight at 9 14.10.2004 - 21:27 tonight finally it gains national attention.9pm fox news (channel 48 cable) watch it. laurie> Keep the friendly debates 15.10.2004 - 10:21 I’ve been reading what everybody has to say since this site started up. I’ve been very neutral and just wanted to see how everyone feels about this case. This is the first time I’ve really had anything to add because I have to disagree with Sarah. I think the two people you mentioned have been doing a great job of sharing thoughts and ideas. It’s very interesting to read what they have to say. I don’t think Jason has been mistreated at all. When he makes crude remarks about Matthew, of course he’s going to get a reaction from Matt’s friends. Go back and read the posts; he keeps getting all worked up about everyone wanting to hang the cops and ruin their careers and yet no one has mentioned that but him. Everyone is just calling out for justice, that’s all. I’ve most enjoyed reading what Lynn has to say. She is obviously siding with the victim, and yet doesn’t get emotional and yell with caps when someone disagrees with her. She is articulate, asks questions, listens to the answers, responds to questions asked of her. She seems very well read and knows her facts before making a statement. I think Jason has some good points from a cops view, but loses a little creditability when he gets overly excited and patronizing if disagreed with. He’s the one that keeps bringing up conspiracy and making up hypothetical stories, yet blames others for the doing it. The only conspiracy that I’ve heard people talk about, and Jason you said it yourself, is that the cops had it out for Sheridan and watched him like a hawk. Sounds like a ‘plan’ within the department, and that, my friend, amounts to conspiracy. I agree with Lynn that the word ‘empathetic’ is being overused, especially when blaming the victim and surmising that he wouldn’t have amounted to a cup of piss. And when you felt you had to sit Sheryl straight with your “..to wish torture on the cops? Who’s the heartless one here” statement…. after listening to the tapes and hearing Sheridan saying over and over that he couldn’t breath, and the cop saying, “that’s nice”, who IS the heartless one here? Sorry, Jason, seriously I'm not meaning to pick on you, but you make so much sense, then all of a sudden you go and throw in some zingers that just aren't necessary and sometimes very hurtful to the family and friends of Sheridan. I don't beleive this site was sit up for that purpose. Oh, I might add, my father and brother are cops. My dad has been on the force for 20 years, and he never talks about the disrespect that you have seen, Jason. He feels this cop should go to jail. Kate> Thanks Laurie 15.10.2004 - 19:12 Not bad. I wished more had been said, but a good place to start. I just hope there will be more interest garnered from this. Keep us informed! Lynn> Luzinski /Greta 16.10.2004 - 13:26 Concordia's Professor Luzinski and self-described honorably retired Lieutenant of police with the Mequon Police Department may think Officer Friendly is funny. I think it spells out the moraly corrupt perverted attitude of the Mequon Police Depatment for all to see. If you agree Luzinski should explain his officer friendly. Email Greta VanSusteren fox news  Gntherecord@foxnews.com officer friendlys address is http//home.wi.rr.com/romcop Jill> Luzinski/Greta correction 16.10.2004 - 14:55  ontherecord@foxnews.com Jill> Where's the Justification 18.10.2004 - 10:43 to Jason: I'm not sure what your motivation is in trying to justify what this Mequon cop did and that he shouldn't go to jail. I don't think anyone really needs you to explain the whole situation or even part of it. His reputation, his father's reputation, what does that have to do with anything? When the kid was arrested, he looked perfectly calm, this cop took the whole situation to a higher level. He took a life plus he knew this kid; he didn't like him; all during the arrest with the other officers present, he continually antagonized him making the situation worse. He ignored matt when he said he couldnt' breathe and says he didn;t noticed that he was dead until he got back to Mequon. Very hard to believe. this guy was kicking & yelling before. This kid sounded like a loser, but nothing he had done before or his behavior on that day gave this cop the right to abuse him or violate his basic civil rights. He said he couldn' breathe. It only takes 4 minutes for brain damage to happen when deprived of oxygen, so why wasn't he taken serious? The tapes show that this kid was in distress before the audio stopped. I could hear it in his voice. But this cop didnt care, continued to ignore him and let him die. Sounds like murder to me, and he knew he would get away with it because of his reputation within the legal halls of shame in Ozaukee Co. I'm sure he'll get some type of award for getting this kid off the streets and get a promotion as well. I'm sure you think that would be just swell? TGM> re laura 18.10.2004 - 17:40 Yes I do know matt sheridan or knew him very well. those stories are all real life occurences in which i've been there in person. I loaned matt 2 dollars when he ran away from his house and slept in his russain friends backyard (nik). I knew him very well. I did bad things too. so dont even say it. a non> Settlement 29.04.2005 - 09:16 I'm disappointed that the family settled this case. Not that any amount of money would bring their son back, but I would have thought at the least they would have demanded that the Mequon police officer be immediately dismissed. He has proven to be, at best, at the edge of competency and yet is still allowed to carry a gun. Jodie> Settlement 03.05.2005 - 20:15 I'm sure that it was so hard for the family to settle on this case, but if they didn't settle then they would be pulled through a 2-3 year trial. I know that they haven't been able to go visit him at the cemetary without thinking about the legal issues, they finally have their closure. I think it was a good idea to settle for the family. They went through enough, let them grieve the loss of Matthew. By the way, for those of you who have never hung out with him, you don't have the right to say anything about how horrible of a person he is. He was truly amazing. The sexual assualt cases were not his fault, the girl was willing. Everyone experiments with drugs at some point in time, and the pipe that was found in the car that day wasn't even his. How would you feel if you were his sister and he was at your high school graduation party and two hours later you get a phone call telling you your 20 year old brother was killed. Find a heart to the people who are so cold about this case. I miss you Matthew> re: Settlement... 04.05.2005 - 10:18 I'm sure the family needed closure, and I absolutely do not blame them for doing what needed to be done. But even after all this time this thing is still so troubling and wrong. Matt had problems, but was not a bad guy, and those who knew him know that to be true. People can paint all kinds of pictures to justify. Whatever, he did not deserve to be murdered for his crimes... and he was murdered, he wasn't killed. No matter what happened that day, the cop is the only one who knows what happened and how much Matt suffered on the way to the station. The guy is a murderer and he got away with it and his life goes on. Jodie> 1 year coming up 17.06.2005 - 15:59 hey guys. i just wanted to remind everyone that on sunday, fathers day, it will be one year that matt has been gone. i know i still think of him everyday, his family is still in my prayers as he is still in my thoughts. keep him alive in your hearts...... laura Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com matt was a great person 16.09.2005 - 00:46 althought i hadnt seen matt for quite before he died, he stil kept close contact with me adn he was the only one that cared enuff to contact me when i moved away. i dated him for awhile as well as was very good friends with him when i lived close by and he wa s asweet person and despite his mistakes , no one has the right to say he deserved to die, no one can judge that and thats just cruel! much love to matt dee> An Important Message 26.01.2006 - 06:04 I've been reading the things that all of you have had to say since Matt's death and I must say that I am appalled by the comments some people have made on Matt's character. If any of you had really known Matt, you would know that despite some downfalls - he was a wonderful and caring person with a laugh that was contagious. He was my best friend for many years, and I've missed him every minute that he has been gone. I cannot understand for the life of me how some of you have had the gaul to make such horrible assumptions about a person based on any media coverage or gossip that has been going around. YES - he dabbled in drugs... does that automatically make him unworthy or deserving of death?? I don't think so, and neither should any of you. Not everyone understood Matt like I did, and I can understand how some may have gotten the wrong impression of him after meeting him - but he was by no means a "bad guy". He was a friend who never failed at cheering me up, a son, a brother, and a human being whose life was taken much too soon for him to possibly prove any of you wrong. For those of you who did know him and have ill things to say: you didn't know him, nor did you take the time to get to know him. He was a poetic and beautiful person - qualities not visible to those who know him only by his tragic death and his mugshot picture. I was at the protest for him in Mequon, and I screamed as loud as I could - because I know that if the roles were reversed, he would have done the same for me. I miss him like hell and not a minute passes where I don't think of him... and FYI - the hurtful and dehumanizing comments some of you have made make my wounds deeper, along with the wounds of his other friends and family. Perhaps you never learned the concept of 'respect' or 'empathy', and if that is the case - I pity you. The City of Mequon and lots of the people who live in it have done nothing but pass judgements and spread rumors and it disgusts me. Some of you may disregard his life as one that would have amounted to nothing, but he was my best friend - and that meant something - he had so much talent, potential and life about him... what more could you ask for? Afterall, if we were all perfect and "acceptable" in the eyes of society, where would the fun be? The fact that he was different from the rest of the blood sucking leaches he lived and went to school around was what made him wonderful, and if you couldn't see that - you were/are probably one of those leaches. SO.. I want to send a big hug/thank you to those of you who have had nice and truthful things to say about Matt, and a big F*ck You to those who have sprouted nothing but negativity and lies-I hope that someday you will find a subject to be passionate about in which you ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT! Please feel free to contact me at anytime regarding this matter or anything having to do with Matt - I would love to hear from you! Love Leah Leah > e-mail:: lshepard@uwm.edu HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT 05.03.2006 - 11:16 WELL...I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF TOO MANY PEOPLE READ THIS ANYMORE, BUT THAT'S OK. JUST WANTED TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MATT. IT'S MARCH 5TH AND WOULD AHVE BEEN MATT'S 22ND BIRTHDAY TODAY. I STILL MISS HIM EVERYDAY, THINK ABOUT HIM CONSTANTLY, THE HURT HASN'T GONE AWAY AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS. LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU MATT....HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE.... Laura> e-mail:: flashqueen000@hotmail.com Rest in Peace 19.06.2006 - 20:42 Today is 2 years to the day of Matt's passing. Love you and miss you sweetie, Rest in Peace. <3 Laura>