Changes To Bill On Police-Involved Shootings Anger Some Backers

The families and friends of people killed by Wisconsin police officers aren’t happy about changes to a bill that would require independent investigations of all shootings involving police.

The bill that was approved by the Assembly Criminal Justice Committee this week, wasn’t the same one legislators debated at an earlier public hearing. That earlier version of the bill created a statewide panel that would review all deaths in the state involving police. The new version of the bill only requires that such deaths be investigated by a police agency outside the county where the death occurred, with the exception of Milwaukee County.

The exclusion of Milwaukee County is the issue that most angered backers of the original bill like Amelia Royko Maurer, whose roommate Paul Heenan was killed by a Madison police officer in 2012.

“Most of the shooting deaths happen in Milwaukee, so it would make most sense to have this bill effective in that city,” said Maurer. “It makes no sense. I think most of the state’s law enforcement and the civilians active in this bill will come together and agree on that.”

Milwaukee officials argue that they already have an independent process for investigating deaths involving police that excludes the Milwaukee Police Department.

Michael Bell, one of the most outspoken backers of the bill, is also disappointed by the revisions. But Bell, whose son was killed by Kenosha police 10 years ago, said it’s a step in the right direction.

“Right now, the bill, in its present form, is better than I ever had when my son was killed,” said Bell. “There is an outside law enforcement agency that’s gonna come in and actually conduct an investigation; and finally there will be guidance given to the family of the deceased so they can at least find some type of recourse.”

So far, the bill has no co-sponsors in the state Senate, which makes its future uncertain.

Correction: The radio version of this story said that Amelia Royko Maurer’s roommate Paul Heenan was killed last year. Maurer’s roomate was actually killed in 2012.