Wanggaard proposes police reforms after shooting
state Sen. Van Wanggaard plans to unveil legislation as early as Wednesday that would allow officials here to analyze police-involved deaths the same way the National Transportation Safety Board investigates plane crashes.
The idea, championed by retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and pilot
Michael Bell, whose son was killed by Kenosha Police in 2004, was part of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Her selection as Democrat Joe Biden’s running mate and the high-profile shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha officers earlier this week have brought the proposal into the national spotlight.
“Getting this bill up right now is important,” Bell said Tuesday. “The window of opportunity is open to make life better for both law enforcement and the community.”
The bill is among a number of police reforms to be circulated by Wanggaard, a Republican who worked as a police officer in Racine before beginning his political career. The package also is likely to include proposed changes to the state’s fire and police commissions.
Milwaukee’s commission has been under a cloud in recent months after its executive director decided to resign, its former chair was accused of ethics violations and its members voted to demote then-Police Chief Alfonso Morales, who plans to file a lawsuit.
The proposals are not meant to substitute for the special session on police reform called for Monday by Gov. Tony Evers, according to Scott Kelly, Wanggaard’s chief of staff.
“They are meant to add to the discussion of police improvements,” Kelly said in an email. “Van will have to earn his votes, just like any legislator and the Governor.”
With plane crashes, the NTSB’s methods include examining and sharing the factors that contributed to a crash or near miss with an eye toward prevention.
Wanggaard’s bill would create a Police and Community Safety Board tasked with using that approach to help law enforcement learn from fatal and near-fatal incidents that victimize officers, civilians or both.
According to an early draft provided to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week, the board would include 13 memWisconsin bers with staggered, three-year terms. Members would be appointed by law enforcement associations and attorneys’ groups. The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Wisconsin also would be allowed to choose one member.
After any criminal investigation of a death or incident that results in great bodily harm to an officer or to a civilian at the hands of an officer is complete, the board would receive full access to all investigative materials. The group would then conduct its own analysis of the causes and make recommendations for how to prevent. Their reports would be largely public.
The bill has been in the works for four years. Earlier estimates set its cost at about $3 million.
Bell called it a good first step toward changing law enforcement culture in America.
“It’s moving the battleship in the right direction, a change of course from the heading we had before,” he said. “We’re going to look at things and say, ‘How can we prevent them from happening again?’ rather than saying, ‘It’s your fault, not mine.’”
The shooting led to protests and violent unrest in Kenosha, Madison and other cities across the country, echoing those prompted by the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville and numerous others.