A Black family in West Allis says they're the target of racist threats and vandalism. Police say they're investigating.

The West Allis Police Department said it's looking into reports of racist crimes being committed against a Black West Allis family.

The crimes have included smashing a vehicle's window, slashing its tires and leaving threatening, racist notes on the car, according to a Facebook post by the family about the incidents.

The couple being targeted, Reginald Wilkerson and Tanathie Addison, who live near South 88th and West Mitchell streets, said in the post the incidents have gone on for "the last couple of months."

They could not immediately be reached for an interview. Meanwhile, a national organization has called for the repeated vandalism to be investigated as hate crimes.

"Keep speeding in MY neighborhood, (n-word). Next time it will be your windshield," said one of the notes, in part, according to photos shared by the family on social media.

The police department said the department is aware of the incidents and investigating them.

"A police report has been filed and the incidents are being thoroughly investigated," West Allis Deputy Police Chief Robert Fletcher said in an email.

Fletcher said because it's an active investigation, specific details will not be released, but that the city of West Allis is committed to be a diverse and supportive community and racially motivated crimes undermine this commitment.

"In addition to any physical or financial loss associated with these crimes, there is a serious emotional loss suffered by the victims," Fletcher said. "The West Allis Police Department is committed to making the City of West Allis a safe community for all, and as such, takes these incidents very seriously and will ensure that they are thoroughly investigated."

Mayor Dan Devine said the incidents make him 'sad and angry'

West Allis Mayor Dan Devine said he learned of the incidents through social media.

He said it made him sad and angry.

"This does not represent West Allis or what West Allis stands for," Devine said in an email. "We have worked hard towards becoming a more welcoming and inclusive community to all.

"I feel like we have made some progress, but then a story like this arises and reinforces that we still have work to do. This ignorant, hateful rhetoric has absolutely no place in our city, or anywhere else."

Alderwoman calls racist threats and vandalism 'completely unacceptable'

Alderwoman Danna Kuehn, who represents District 3, along with Alderwoman Suzzette Grisham, called the incidents "completely unacceptable."

"No person should feel unsafe in their community regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation — really anything, for that matter," Kuehn said. "What's happening is 100% unacceptable. It's not what West Allis is about, and I hope that they catch whoever's doing this and prosecute them to the fullest extent."

Grisham, who also called for the person or persons responsible to be apprehended and prosecuted, said she learned of the incidents when she was tagged in a social media post.

"I was absolutely shocked that this is taking place in our community," Grisham said. She described the crimes as "deplorable acts of hate."

"I don't want anyone in our community, of color or otherwise, to think that there's no place here for them, and to be to be run off," she said. "I think that's what this individual's trying to do."

Both said they've reached out to the family to show their support. Kuehn said the couple's infant daughter no longer stays with them out of fear.

"It's completely heart wrenching that they don't even feel safe enough to have their child," Kuehn said. "So I just really hope that this individual gets caught and that they realize that the majority of West Allis is not like this, and they choose to stay and make West Allis their home ... and they can hopefully get justice and find peace and feel safety within their own home."

National organization calls for a hate crime investigation

The crimes have captured the attention of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, which has called for a hate crime investigation into the incidents.

"These disturbing attacks demonstrate the seriousness of the threat posed by racism and white supremacy in Wisconsin and nationwide," CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said in a March 15 news release. "We urge law enforcement authorities to investigate this incident as a possible hate crime."

He said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and white supremacy.

Contact Bob Dohr at 262-361-9140 or bob.dohr@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BobDohr1.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Black family in West Allis the target of racist threats and vandalism