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In light of the community interests and concerns over a recent incident involving an MPD officer's use of force. I want the community to know what the next steps are in this ongoing investigation. To better advance principles of transparency and accountability, while also ensuring due process and fundamental fairness to all involved parties, I will be seeking to do the following:
- The employee who applied the spit hood and delivered strikes during the incident will be placed on restricted duty.
- I have directed the Records Section of MPD to make it a priority to compile all reports that have been completed regarding this incident and perform any required redactions to respect individuals' privacy while providing access to the substantive elements of all of the circumstances surrounding this incident. Redaction is a labor-intensive undertaking but it is my hope to have this expedited and then post the reports on our website for community access and review.
- Once the MPD Professional Standards and Internal Affairs investigation is complete, I will seek the assistance of an outside agency to review the incident. Specifically, I will request that a subject matter expert in Defense and Arrest Tactics (DAAT) to review whether the force used was reasonable and appropriate based on guidelines articulated by the State of Wisconsin's Training and Standards curriculum.
- At the request of the District Attorney's Office, all of the police reports have been shared with their office.
Use of force by police is never the first option for resolving conflicts. In the overwhelming majority of our face-to-face encounters with constituents, recordable use of force has historically occurred during far less than 1% of our calls. That said, use of force is something that is taken seriously and reviewed within the MPD for those rare instances where force has been employed.
In closing, the process of conducting an investigation of this type has several stages. Right now, we are still at a fact-finding stage, which involves comprehensive interviews with all of the affected parties of interest. MPD is taking this case very seriously, and I am committed to a thorough and transparent process.
The information contained in my blog is derived from notes provided by MPD Officers-In-Charge (OIC) at the end of their shifts. Most narratives represent early and preliminary information that was gathered by an OIC from those in the field who were actively working cases. The OIC is sharing what they were being told, in the moment. In many instances, facts and circumstances, even the type of crime listed, can change as officers, detectives and investigators continue their work.
From 6:00 a.m. on 06/05/2019 through 6:00 a.m. on 06/06/2019, MPD received 571 calls for service. This number does not include parking complaints or 911 misdials. For purposes of clarification, the following abbreviations are short-hand for race designations: W=White, AA=African American, NA=Native American, H=Hispanic, ME=Middle Eastern, A=Asian, MR=Mixed Race, U=Unknown. MPD shifts are staggered as follows: 1st detail=7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2nd detail=12 p.m. to 8 p.m., 3rd detail=3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 4th detail=8 p.m. to 4 a.m., 5th detail=11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
To further break down the 571 calls for service for the past 24-hours, this is how the calls came in per district: Central (125), East (112), Midtown (73), North (74), South (42), West (76), and Other (69). Other=these are calls for service that either do not have a sector listed or the sector is not in the City. For example, if one of our officers assists another law enforcement agency, their sector is not listed in our districts so therefore it is listed under "other".
**Priority calls only from 9:16am-12:07pm due to calls for service.
**Priority calls only from 4:11pm-5:30pm due to calls for service.
1) WEST: Missing/Runaway Juvenile – 7:44 a.m. Officers responded to Cameron Road for a report of a missing/runaway juvenile (13-year-old AAM). Attempt to locate aired. The juvenile was located safe. No further action deemed necessary by the officers.
2) SOUTH: Search Warrant/Suicide – 8:30 a.m. MPD personnel served a search warrant at a Greenway Cross apartment. Upon entry, officers discovered that the resident/suspect (male in his 30's) had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Lifesaving measures were provided but were not successful. The search warrant was part of a child pornography investigation. Incident Report on MPD's website completed. Investigation continuing.
3) EAST: Check Person – 10:35 a.m. Officers responded to the Milwaukee St/St. Paul area to check the welfare of a subject (48-year-old AAF) exhibiting unusual behavior. No concerns were identified. No action deemed necessary by the police other than giving the subject a ride home.
4) CENTRAL: Check Person – 10:57 a.m. A juvenile (15-year-old WM) made contact with officers and stated he had taken numerous pills in a suicide attempt. The juvenile was cooperative and conveyed to a local hospital for an evaluation. The juvenile reported some possible abuse by his step-father. Fitchburg PD was contacted regarding the allegations as the incident reportedly took place in their jurisdiction. The juvenile was left in the care of medical staff. No further action deemed necessary by MPD officers.
5) WEST: Check Person – 11:47 a.m. A MPD Mental Health Officer and MPD/Journey Mental Health Crisis Worker responded to a west side residence to conduct a welfare check of a 33-year-old WM. It was determined that the subject needed to be evaluated, so he was taken into protective custody and conveyed to a local hospital. An emergency detention may be sought. Investigation continuing.
6) NORTH: Weapons Offense – 1:39 p.m. Officers responded to the 1700 block of Northport Drive for a domestic disturbance. The victim (19-year-old AAM) and the suspect (19-year-old AAF) have a child-in-common (8-month old who was also present) and were engaged in a verbal argument, which then turned physical. The victim attempted to leave the residence with the child when the suspect armed herself with a knife. The suspect swung the knife at the victim (while he was still holding their child). The victim sustained a minor injury. The child was uninjured. The suspect was taken into custody, conveyed to jail and charged with 2nd degree reckless endangering safety (two counts). Investigation continuing.
7) CENTRAL: Check Person – 2:17 p.m. Officers responded to E. Washington/Blair St for a report of a male subject stumbling around and almost falling into traffic. A subject (40-year-old WM) matching the description provided was observed by officers. The subject attempted to run away as officers arrived in the area. It was determined that the subject was impaired due to AODA issues. The subject was taken into protective custody and conveyed to detox. A probation/parole hold was placed on the subject. Investigation continuing.
8) EAST: Theft – 3:05 p.m. Officers responded to the Target on Lien Road for a report of several juveniles stealing. Officers were advised that the juveniles had been fighting with staff and then fled. All suspects were located/detained and were issued citations for retail theft. The suspects were as follows: 13-year-old AAM, 12-year-old AAM, 14-year-old AAF, 13-year-old AAM and 13-year-old AAF. Additional charges may be forthcoming as Target stated the same juveniles were involved in previous thefts. Investigation continuing.
9) EAST: Crash/Property Damage – 3:24 p.m. Officers responded to Hwy 30/N. Stoughton Rd for a two-vehicle crash. One of the driver's was determined to be under the influence. The driver/suspect (38-year-old WM) was issued citations for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and following too closely. The suspect was conveyed to jail to post on the citations as he has no ties to our community.
10) WEST: Disturbance – 5:39 p.m. Officers responded to Putnam Road for a 7-year-old AAM who was hitting his siblings. Officers assisted the parents with conveying the child to a local hospital for an evaluation. The child attempted to run away from the hospital (officers and his parents) but was safely secured. An emergency detention is being sought. Investigation continuing.
11) NORTH: Information/Suspicious Person – 8:20 p.m. Officers responded to the 1900 block of Northport Drive for a report of a suspicious person (41-year-old AAM). It was reported that the subject was contacting juveniles (15-year-old AAF and 13-year-old WF) and asking them about their ages/clothing. The subject/suspect was contacted and lied about his identity. Probable cause was developed to arrest the suspect and convey him to jail on charges of disorderly conduct, trespassing, obstructing and an outstanding warrant. Investigation continuing.
12) NORTH: Domestic Disturbance – 10:16 p.m. Officers responded to a domestic disturbance that occurred in a vehicle on the interstate. The victim (66-year-old WF) and driver/suspect (35-year-old WM), along with a 5-year-old child in the backseat, were in a moving vehicle when the victim and suspect got into a verbal argument. The suspect increased the vehicle speed to over 90mph and was weaving in and out of traffic. The suspect also verbally threatened the victim. The suspect was subsequently arrested and conveyed to jail for domestic disorderly conduct. Investigation continuing.
13) CENTRAL: Domestic Disturbance – 11:53 p.m. Officers responded to the 400 block of N. Frances Street for a domestic disturbance among three subjects (18-year-old WM victim, 19-year-old WM victim and 18-year-old WF suspect). The WM victim reported being struck in the face by his roommate/suspect. The suspect was reported to be highly intoxicated when this took place. The suspect then made threats toward both victims. The WM victim sustained visible injuries. The suspect was arrested and conveyed to jail on charges of domestic battery (2 counts) and domestic disorderly conduct, after a medical clearance was obtained.
14) EAST: Check Person – 12:39 a.m. Officers responded to an east side senior living complex for a report of a missing adult (73-year-old WF). It was reported that the WF subject was signed out earlier in the day by her granddaughter (18-year-old WF) and had not returned when expected. Areas checked. Attempt to locate aired. Both subjects were located safe. No further action deemed necessary by the police.
15) CENTRAL: Disturbance – 1:17 a.m. Officers were in the 600 block of State Street when they alerted to a disturbance in the area. A victim (18-year-old WF) was found to have been punched in the face by a suspect (22-year-old AAM). The suspect attempted to flee from officers but he was apprehended. The suspect was arrested, conveyed to jail and charged with battery, disorderly conduct and resisting.