Controversial comments about race are forcing Brown County law enforcement officials to respond and explain

Kathryn Bracho:

At a meeting Monday, Public Safety Committee members asked Lieutenant Tom Molitor, a member of the Brown County Drug Task Force, how drugs usually get to our area.

He answered, "Bulk cocaine or bulk marijuana is going to have, generally speaking, going to have a connection to Mexican criminal organization, okay? If we're talking about large quantities of crack, generally it is an African-American from Chicago or Milwaukee area."

Chief Deputy John Gossage says Lieutenant Molitor meant to talk about the routes drugs take to our area, not about the people who sell them. "South America, up into Mexico, being channeled up through highways, through airplanes, through boats, etc., eventually making its way up through Chicago," Gossage expounded.

Police say during that meeting, Lieutenant Molitor said he does not think all Mexicans are drug dealers, and said diversity is a good thing.

Law enforcement officials say while many people are talking about race, the issue being forgotten is how pervasive drugs have become in our community.

"That was whole impetus, the whole intent for Lieutenant Molitor to come and talk to Public Safety Board," Gossage said, "to explain to them the amount of drugs that are coming into the community, the problems that we're having."

"It would be ludicrous to say that all Hispanics, that all African-Americans, anybody of other ethnicity is involved in drug activity," Gossage said, saying members of his department don't have blanket ideas that cover all people of certain races.

Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt apologized that such comments made at the meeting. He said people have to be more careful when making generalizations about others.

So now law enforcement officials have to apologize for making the "mistake" of speaking the truth about drug crime in America.