WAUWATOSA, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS)— The Wauwatosa police and fire commission met virtually Wednesday night to determine if officer Joseph Mensah will remain active on the force.

Cars filled the parking lot outside the Wauwatosa City Hall Wednesday night as a virtual hearing was held to decide the fate of officer Joseph Mensah. The police and fire commission held the hearing to decide whether officer Mensah would be suspended after charges were accepted by the board against him for killing three men while in the line of duty.

“We believe that based on the actions of officer Mensah with regard to him firing 19 shots in five years and killing Jay Anderson, Alvin Cole, and Antonio Gonzales that he has violated his law enforcement code of ethics,” Commissioner Kimberly Motley said.

After moving the hearing to a closed session, the board voted to suspend him effective immediately. This decision falls on the 48th day of protesting here in Wisconsin

Protesters say it is a small victory, however, they also say it is not the end.

“We want him to be terminated completely, we want him to be tried convicted and indicted with criminal charges. At the end of the day he murdered three people within five years and broke standard operating procedures and that’s why he was suspended today we believe,” Protestor, Khalil Coleman said.

Protester Khalil Coleman says he believes this victory will give them more power to continue the movement.

“It’s a way to keep the momentum going, people see the change people see the impact, people see the impact they have, the power that they have and I think it is going to last a long time,” Coleman said.

For now, he says they will celebrate and await the investigation into officer Mensah to come to a close.