Forum Post: Justice for Paulie.

Protesting in the streets is much more effective when online petition are accessed as well. http://www.change.org/petitions/madison-police-chief-noble-wray-take-officer-stephen-heimsness-off-the-streets

Justice for Paulie: the police officer who killed our friend is removed from the Madison police force.

Six months ago, Madison Police Officer Stephen Heimsness shot and killed our dear friend Paulie Heenan in front of our apartment for no good reason. And after the shooting, Officer Heimsness was cleared of any wrongdoing and allowed to keep his job as if nothing had happened. We started a petition on Change.org demanding that Officer Heimsness be taken off the streets, and after more than 107,000 people signed (including you), on June 22, the Madison Chief of Police requested to have Officer Heimsness fired from the force.
We are thankful our voices were heard, but this moment is bittersweet. We will never get our friend back -- hear him laugh, play the guitar, or give him a hug. And the Chief of Police refuses to acknowledge that his reason for terminating Officer Heimsness has anything to do with the killing of our friend and the massive public outcry that followed. But we are sure none of this would have happened if you hadn't put the pressure on. We started this petition on Change.org because we never want to see this happen again to anyone. And it's because of your help that this victory was possible. Your immense show of support was completely uplifting during this difficult time. While more change is needed to rebuild the culture of trust and respect that good police work requires in our city of Madison, consider this victory a giant first step. Thanks for everything. Nathan and Amelia Royko Maurer Madison, WI