Crowds dwindle on day 3 of Manney hearing, anxiously "waiting for the decision"

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For a second day there were no lines outside of the Milwaukee Municipal Court building where the hearing for former officer Christopher Manney took place. With all the extra security there were more police in attendance than the general public.

The Manney appeal hearing continues to shine a light on an investigation into the events of April 30th, 2014. Former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney shot and killed Dontre Hamilton in Red Arrow Park.

Police Chief Ed Flynn fired Manney in October saying he treated Hamilton like a criminal and unjustly escalated a situation which led to Hamilton's death.

Manney's fight to get his job back began Thursday, March 19th with an overflow crowd. It continued on Friday and again on Saturday with fewer spectators. Markasa Chambers is one among them, supporting the Hamilton family.

"This isn't a color thing, we're looking at it as a systematic thing. There's something wrong with our system, there is something wrong with the way things have been going on," said Chambers.

Chambers says regardless of opinion the testimony is important for the public to hear.

"They need to ask those tough questions so the commissions can get those answers they need to hear," said Chambers.

Attending for the first time Saturday was Michael Bell. Bell pushed for and helped pass a bill in Wisconsin requiring an outside agency to investigate when police used deadly force.

Hamilton's death was the first such case to be affected by the new law.

"This is driving change and it's going to be good for the community, people need to understand that," said Bell.

In the overflow room, to say not many were sitting and watching Saturday's testimony is true.

"Waiting by, waiting for the decision," said Chambers.

But there's a larger audience, one that's standing and working, and perhaps forming their own opinions and certainly connected to a day in April, nearly one year ago.

"Not only here but I'm sure other departments around the state are really keeping an eye on what's going on here," said Bell.

The Manney appeal hearing will continue Sunday, March 21st, as well as Monday, March 22nd.