When Police Kill, Should They Investigate Themselves? Not In Wisconsin
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed into law a bill this week that requires independent investigations into any cases where a suspect dies in police custody. The law appears to be the first of its kind in the Nation.
The new law disallows police departments to internally investigate fatalities of suspects in their custody, requiring a team of at least two investigators from outside agencies to lead investigations into such deaths.
One of the bill’s sponsors, State Representative Garey Bies (R- Sister Bay), is a former sheriff’s deputy who said he was troubled by a string of in-custody fatalities.
“I just saw a strong need to have some openness and some credibility, to assure the public that police are there to protect and serve and be upfront and honest with them,” Bies told theMilwaukie Journal Sentinel. “I believe the majority of police are, but when these things come up, it leaves a real question in your mind of what took place.”
The bill enjoyed bipartisan support from Wisconsin State lawmakers.
Chris Taylor, a Democratic State Representative from Madison, cosponsored the bill in hopes that States throughout the Nation will enact similar reforms.
“I think this hopefully will embolden other states that it can be done on a bipartisan basis with support from law enforcement and from the community,” Taylor said. “I’m proud that Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to have this outside investigatory process. It’s kind of unbelievable.”
As the law is set to take effect in the next two weeks detractors, namely police unions, remain.
“Police departments are uniquely suited to investigate incidents,” Jim Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police told The Wall Street Journal. He suggested thatinternal investigations, along with Federal oversight and the threat of civil lawsuits, provide ample transparency in the Nation’s police departments.
