On February 22, 2024, Franklin Community News (FCN) published an article entitled "Franklin Resident Alleges Mayor Nelson "Weaponized" Police Department as Political Payback"
FCN has obtained video footage via an open records request from the February 22, 2024, Franklin Common Council Meeting that Mayor Nelson did indeed Weaponize the Franklin Police Department against Dr. Richard Busalacchi as Busalacchi had alleged. The video received was before the 6:30pm start time of the meeting from three different camera angles.
Video 1 shows Nelson approaching Officer Thompson at about 6:20pm before the Common Council meeting at 6:30pm. Busalacchi walked in, the Mayor said Hi Mr. Busalacchi, shook his hand, and made a comment similar to “I hope you are going to behave tonight”. Busalacchi responded thinking the comments were intended to be funny “Maybe”. Busalacch then went and took a seat in the audience as Busalacchi intended to make public comments pertaining to the outstanding taxes owed by ROC Ventures and the agenda item on TID#5.
The video clearly shows as Busalacchi walks in, Nelson points out Busalacchi to Officer Thompson as to indicate "That's him".
Video 1
Video 2 shows Officer Thompson at about 6:23pm, 3 minutes later after Nelson pointed Busalacchi out, Officer Thompson approached him, tapped him on the shoulder, and asked him to step into the hall with the officer. In the hallway Officer Thompson cautioned Busalacchi to be careful about his remarks so as not to cause a disruption. He also indicated that it has been reported that Busalacchi has caused disruptions and disturbances at past common council meetings.
Busalacchi then went back to his seat. Busalacchi was the second citizen to make a public comment. You can see his comments on the video of the meeting at the 4:35 mark.
Video 2
Busalacchi went the same evening to the Franklin Police Department to file a complaint of harassment against the Mayor and the Police Department would not take a formal complaint against the Mayor. Busalacchi has been to the Police Department at least three times to file complaints and was told that the department has been directed by the Chief to not accept any complaints from Busalacchi.
Previous Common Council Videos of Busalacchi making public comments will not show Busalacchi in any way being disrespectful or causing interruption at any Franklin Common Council Meetings. What the videos will clearly show on multiple occasions is the Mayor interrupting Busalacchis public comments and on multiple occasions calling Busalacchi a liar. Meeting videos do not show the mayor doing the same for other speakers during public comment.
As Franklin Community News reported on March 27, 2024, formal allegations have been made against Franklin Mayor John Nelson that he worked in a conspiracy with Steve Taylor, County Supervisor/ROC Foundation Executive Director, and Mike Zimmerman, CEO of ROC Ventures to silence the 1st Amendment Rights along with conspiracy to interfere with the employment of a Franklin Resident and Publisher of FCN News, Dr. Richard Busalacchi.
Busalacchi filed a formal complaint with the City of Franklin on April 4, 2024, and asked for a formal investigation into his allegations. At the April 16, 2024 Common Council meeting the item was on the agenda in closed session. After about one hour the council came out of closed session and took no action. It is also important to note that one of the first actions the Mayor and the Council took after the Mayor was elected was to not accept any ethics complaints.
Busalacchi claims, with documented proof of each, that the City of Franklin Mayor John Nelson committed the following since April 4, 2023:
● Participated in a conspiracy with County Supervisor Steve Taylor and ROC Owner/Operator Mike Zimmerman to silence his 1st Amendment Rights.
● Participated in a conspiracy with Steve Taylor and Mike Zimmerman to interfere with his employment.
● Provided false information to a Franklin Police Officer to weaponize the police department against him.
● Participated in a conspiracy with Taylor, Zimmerman, Supervisor Kathleen Vincent/School Board member for the Village of Greendale, and a local employee to harass him under the WI Statute 947.013
● Worked in a conspiracy to stalk Busalacchi with Taylor, Zimerman, Vincent, under the WI Statute 940.32
● Purposefuly withheld responsive open records to (John.1968Nelson@gmail.com) email account and the (jnelson@waterfordpd.com) email account. A violation of state Statues 19.37(3)(4)
● The City of Franklin Police Department has refused to accept these and other related complaints to be investigated. The City of Franklin Police Department has not provided him equal protection of the laws under the 14th Amendment.
Busalacchi is deeply troubled and concerned that the actions taken by the Franklin Police Department were politically motivated by Mayor Nelson and/or a member of his Administration. It was very apparent and clear from the video that Busalacchi was the target of this ”operation” and it was intended to intimidate and harass him in an attempt to suppress his public comments. It is also apparent that the Mayor and/or someone from his administration lied to the Franklin Police Department with knowingly false information about him.
It is Busalacchi's contention that actions by the Franklin Police Department are political payback. Political payback on behalf of Mayor Nelson and/or his staff and/or other politicians and/or business associates. It was direct retaliation, intimidation, suppression of speech (during public comment), and infringement of his 1st amendment rights. This political payback was intended because of filing open records requests, conducting meticulous research, and writing and posting articles that do not portray Franklin's current city leadership and certain local businesses in the best light.
John Nelson is not just the Mayor, he is also a full-time Police Lieutenant in Waterford and should have known better. The Mayor continues a trend of not being truthful.
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