Pablo Torres: Wisconsin residents unsettled by billboard backing police officer at centre of shootings probe

Pablo Torres is on administrative lead

As tempers flare in Baltimore, Maryland following the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, a Wisconsin police department has come under fire for its perceived endorsement of the deadly tactics employed by one of its officers.

Residents in Kenosha, Wisconsin, have responded negatively to a billboard posted by the Kenosha Professional Police Association. The billboard, which reads “Thank you for your support, Kenosha,” features a picture of officer Pablo Torres.

Mr Torres is currently on administrative leave from the department due to an investigation into the shooting death of 26-year-old Aaron Siler.

According to Kenosha police, Mr Torres allegedly shot Mr Siler after Mr Siler pulled a weapon on him during a pursuit. “Officer Torres fired his handgun striking and killing the suspect. There were citizen witnesses to the incident,” said the Kenosha Police Department after the shooting, according to BuzzFeed.

The fatal shooting occurred just 10 days after Torres shot 66-year-old Terry Knight, who allegedly attacked Torres with a knife. Knight was injured, and Torres was cleared of any wrong-doing. The killing of Mr Siler occurred on Torres’ first day back on the job following the altercation with Knight.

The combination of those two incidents, as well as the fact that the investigation into the death of Mr Siler is still ongoing, has lead to intense local outcry against the billboard, with many questioning the appropriateness of the message behind it.

“I was so hurt. I was balling my eyes out,” said family spokeswoman Kathy Willie in a statement to the Kenosha News, about seeing the billboard for the first time.

In a separate editorial published on Wednesday, the Kenosha News called for the billboard to be taken down.

“The billboard, and events such as the Back the Badge rally in Pennoyer Park on Saturday, may be intended as support for law enforcement and appreciation for that support, but they could also be seen as attempts to intimidate people who might criticise the police,” the editorial read.