Officer Involved Critical Incident

The purpose of this Policy is to provide guidelines for the investigation of officer-involved shooting incidents and other incidents where death or serious injury has resulted from a UW-Platteville Police Officer’s actions.

Policy: Officer Involved Critical Incident

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: 6.3.8

Issue Date: June 29, 2013 

Reviewed Date: March 30, 2026

Revised Date: March 30, 2026

 

Purpose:

The purpose of this Policy is to provide guidelines for the investigation of officer-involved shooting incidents and other incidents where death or serious injury has resulted from a UW-Platteville Police Officer’s actions.

Policy:

It is the policy of the UW-Platteville Police Department to ensure that thorough investigations of deadly force incidents are conducted. Such investigations will be conducted in all incidents involving the actual or attempted use of deadly force, or when an individual is seriously injured or killed by police action. The intention of these investigations will be to reconstruct and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident to ensure the actions taken by any officer were lawful and within the confines of the DAAT system, state statutes, department policy and training. Nothing in this policy is intended to preempt or violate current legal standards.

Definitions:

1. Deadly Force Incident- any incident in which an officer used a firearm or other instrument that did or could have resulted in a high probability of death or serious bodily injury.
2. Investigating Officer- a Supervisor or Officer assigned to investigate a use of force incident.
3. Involved Officer- officer(s) who utilized deadly force on/at a suspect and is the focus of the investigation.
4. Support Officer- officer assigned to the Involved Officer utilized to assist Involved Officer during the stressful aftermath of a use of force incident.
5. Use of Force Review Board- internal panel charged, by the Chief, to review an incident and report their findings in a recommendation of action directed to the Chief.
6. Victim Officer- officer who had deadly force used against them.
7. Witness Officer- officer(s) also present at the incident, but not directly involved in the use of force.

Procedures:

The following procedures shall be followed when an officer is involved in a deadly force incident:

1. Involved Officer
   1. Determine if the scene/incident is now safe – no threat(s) still present
   2. Check self for injuries
   3. Communicate status with dispatch center and other officers assuring back-up is responding.
   4. If safe to do so, secure and check the subject for injuries and administer first aid if required.
   5. Summon Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel as necessary.
   6. Maintain close personal observation and physical contact with the subject while continuing to provide first aid until relieved by appropriate EMS personnel.
2. Responding Officers
   1. If not completed already:
      1. Contact the Police Chief or designee
      2. Neutralize scene- Ensure that scene has reached a level of control that there is no longer a threat of harm to citizens, officers, or suspects.
      3. When safe to do so, advise dispatch, and activate EMS.
      4. When safe to do so, advise supervisor of the deadly force incident.
      5. Provide for the immediate medical attention of all persons injured.
   2. Secure the scene(s); to the extent possible use crime scene tape to secure any area that may contain evidence pertinent to the events being investigated.
   3. Assign sufficient personnel to ensure that the scene perimeter is not breached.
   4. Remove the involved officer from the center of the scene to a discreet area such as a police vehicle (do not place the officer in the backseat).
   5. Secure and segregate all witnesses to the event. This would include the segregation of the involved officer so that no allegations can be made that officers were in a position to discuss the incident.
   6. Turn scene over to supervisor or Incident Commander upon his/her arrival.
3. Incident Command Responsibilities (6.3.8.2)
   1. The Incident Commander (IC) shall assign responsibility for completion of the following tasks as appropriate.
      1. Identify any remaining threats and take necessary action.
      2. Determine the physical condition of officers, suspects, and third parties; provide emergency first aid if necessary; and ensure that emergency medical assistance has been summoned.
      3. Ensure that a brief public safety statement is collected individually from the involved officer(s), covering only information necessary to focus initial police response and direct the preliminary investigation. This includes information on
         1. type of force used;
         2. direction and approximate number of shots fired by officers and suspects;
         3. location of injured persons;
         4. description of at-large suspects and their direction of travel, time elapsed since the suspects were last seen, and any suspect weapons;
         5. description and location of any known victims or witnesses;
         6. description and location of any known evidence; and
         7. Any other information necessary to ensure officer and public safety and to assist in the apprehension of at-large suspects.
   2. Ensure the adequacy of the inner perimeter.
      1. Direct that an outer perimeter be established to prevent all from entering except those who have a specific function to perform. Ensure the names of all those who enter the perimeter are recorded.
      2. Ensure that a media staging area is established beyond the outer perimeter and that it is appropriately staffed.
   3. Ensure that the weapons of all other officers at the shooting scene have been inspected to determine if any other weapons were discharged. If so, those officers will also be considered “Involved Officers”, and their weapons shall be recovered and the officer will be handled per paragraph E. section c.3.
   4. Begin initial criminal investigation until relieved by the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) investigators. (6.3.8.2)
      1. Locate and secure in place weapons, ammunition, and expended cartridges used by the suspect.
      2. Collect information available about the suspect from anyone at the scene.
      3. Ensure that all potential witnesses have been identified and separated and ask that they remain on hand to provide a statement. If witnesses wish to leave, obtain their contact information for future communications.
      4. Determine and mark the position(s) of the officers and the suspects at the time of the shooting.  Whenever possible, photograph officers as they appear at the scene, to include any injuries sustained.
      5. Separate and remove all involved officers from the immediate scene. As stated earlier, ensure that a Support Officer is assigned to each.
      6. Direct all involved officers not to discuss any aspects of the shooting among themselves or with others with the exception of their attorney, a qualified mental health professional, or authorized investigative personnel
4. Police Chief and/or Designee Responsibilities

1. Contact the Chancellor and/or Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services as soon as possible to advise them on the situation, request University Resources and to activate the University Emergency Response Plan.
2. Contact the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations (see Paragraph F.).  Any investigation of the incident shall be conducted as soon as practical.
3. Remove the involved officer from the scene as soon as possible following these guidelines:

1. Assign a support officer. The support officer will secure all equipment of the officer involved. The support officer will photograph the officer involved as he/she is before taking clothing for evidence purposes.
   1. The equipment shall be left in the identical condition as when it was secured.
   2. No weapon will be unloaded or changed in condition.
   3. The officer’s weapon will recovered as evidence and be replaced with another.  The timing of when that will occur will be on case-by-case basis.
2. The officer involved shall be transported as soon as feasible to the police department. A supportive peer officer will be assigned, and remain with the officer and provide assistance.
3. If the Involved Officer must remain at the scene, move him/her to a quiet area, away from the scene of the incident with the Support Officer.
4. When practical and feasible, mental health professionals shall be contacted for all involved officers. (6.3.8.4)
5. Arrange to have the officer involved contact family, clergy, and or legal counsel. Under no circumstances will an officer be placed in the rear seat of a squad car. No officer will be held or isolated in any area without a peer support officer.
6. No investigative examination or interview will take place until the Police Chief and/or designee authorizes such.

4. The officer involved shall be placed on administrative leave or desk duty by the Police Chief and/or designee during the investigation of the incident and or until such time as the incident investigation is completed.

1. The officer shall be available for Departmental interviews and statements regarding the incident and subject to recall to duty.
2. It is recommended that a Department Use of Force Instructor be made available to assist the officer with properly documenting the incident A written report shall be completed by the officer as soon as possible within 72 hours of the incident.
3. The officer will be returned to full duty as soon as possible.

5. The involved officer should be advised to have phone calls answered by another person for several days after the incident if the officer’s name is released to the public.
6. The officer should be advised not to discuss the incident with anyone except a personal or department attorney, medical professional, clergy, or assigned investigator, until the conclusion of the preliminary investigation. This does not prohibit the officer from discussing the incident with their spouse.
7. The Police Chief will assure that officer who discharges his/her firearm during a deadly force incident shall be required to re-qualify as soon as practical.
8. The Police Chief and/or Sergeant should brief other Department members concerning the incident so that rumors are kept to a minimum.

1. Direct all involved officers not to discuss any aspects of the shooting among themselves or with others with the exception of their attorney, a qualified mental health professional, or authorized investigative personnel

1. Department employees are encouraged to show the involved officer(s) their concern. They are not permitted to speak with the media about the incident or about the involved officer.

9. Subject to Wis. Stat. §950.08(2g)(h), in the case of an officer-involved death, as defined in Wis. Stat. §175.47(1)(c), the agency responsible for conducting the investigation is responsible for notifying family members of the decedent about the process by which a complaint under Wis. Stats.   §968.02 or §968.26(2) may be filed, and about the process of an inquest under Wis. Stat. §979.05. (6.3.8.8)

5. Deadly Force Incident Investigation and Review Procedure
   1. Anytime an officer is involved in a Deadly Force Incident, the Department, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations, will investigate the incident and review the report with the utmost thoroughness, professionalism and impartiality to determine if the officer's actions conform to Department policy, training and state law. The Department will also take measures required to minimize the negative psychological trauma resulting from the officer's involvement in the deadly force incident.
      1. In all cases, per Wis. Stat. §175.47, (6.3.8.3) the Chief of Police or designee shall request the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations, to conduct the major crimes investigation that accompanies any law enforcement critical incident which involves serious bodily injury or death. (6.3.8.1) 
         1. This section does not relieve the involved agency of its responsibility to conduct an administrative investigation of the critical incident and review the event for a determination as to the whether or not agency issues including policy and training issues are indicated by the action.
   2. The UW-Platteville Police Department shall conduct an administrative critical incident review of all firearm discharges, in-custody deaths or serious injuries, and all uses of force/response to resistive suspects when the injury results in hospitalization. This review shall result in a written critique and specifically address the following issues and make a specific determination whether: (6.3.8.2)
      1. The force, control and/or restraint was consistent with the agency policy;
      2. There are any issues requiring a re-evaluation of agency policy and/or procedures;
      3. There are any training needs identified;
      4. The equipment provided by the agency was adequate; and
      5. Supervisory involvement was reasonable.
      6. The purpose of the review will be twofold: to determine whether the officer followed established policy, procedure and training; and to determine if any future policy, procedure or training recommendations are necessary
      7. The administrative review will begin once the criminal investigation has been completed, unless directed otherwise by the Police Chief.
      8. If a criminal investigation is not completed and/or before any prosecutorial body has determined if charges are appropriate, any information gathered in the administrative review shall not be shared with the investigating officer(s) or any prosecutor.
6. Police Chief and/or designee Responsibilities: Officer(s) Injured During The Incident
   1. The officer involved shall be transported as soon as feasible to the hospital for evaluation. A supportive peer officer will be assigned, if available, to accompany and remain with the officer and provide assistance.
      1. Officers(s) involved should normally not be questioned at the hospital. They are there for medical evaluation and may be medicated or provided a sedative to bring down blood pressure, relax, and sleep, which may affect the officer’s recall.
      2. Under no circumstances will the officer’s home or family information be given to the hospital. They will get the officer’s name and the UW-Platteville Police Department address.
      3. After medical evaluation and treatment (if required), the assigned support officer shall transport the officer to his/her home and make arrangements for the officer’s vehicle. Under normal circumstances the officer should not be permitted to drive himself/herself home.
      4. No investigative examination or interview will take place until the Police Chief and/or designee authorizes such
   2. If the officer involved is injured, every attempt will be made to make personal notification.  Every effort will be made to assist family members and support persons with transportation. (6.3.8.6)
   3. If feasible, personally go to the home of the officer involved making notification to family members and providing transportation to the hospital or other location as required.
   4. Brief family on the procedures that will be followed for the incident.
7. Police Chief and/or designee Responsibilities: Officer(s) deceased in an incident (6.3.8.6)
   1. Ensure that another officer remains with the deceased officer until relieved.
   2. Personal notification shall be made to the deceased officer's family by the Chief of Police, accompanied by a Platteville Police Department Chaplin, or another crisis worker, or family’s clergy, if known.
   3. Assign an officer to the family for security, support, transportation, and any other related matters.
   4. Ensure the officer's name is not released to the media until authorized.
8. Follow-Up Administrative Phase
   1. Involved Officer(s)
      1. The Involved Officer(s) whose actions or use of force results in a death or serious physical injury shall be removed from his/her line duty assignment pending administrative review. (6.3.8.5)
      2. He/she will be assigned modified duty with days and times to be determined by the Chief.
      3. The Involved Officer(s) may be granted paid administrative time off, but shall remain available during times specified by the Chief.
      4. Any officer directly involved in a deadly force incident shall be required to contact a Department designated mental health specialist for counseling and evaluation as soon as practical after the incident. (6.3.8.4)
      5. Involved support personnel shall also be required to contact such specialists after a deadly force incident.
      6. After the counseling sessions, the specialist shall only discuss with the Police Chief:
         1. Whether it would be in the officer’s best interest to be placed on administrative leave or desk duty, and for how long;
         2. What will be the best course of continued counseling.
      7. The Department strongly encourages the family of the involved officer to take advantage of available counseling services.
      8. The Involved Officer(s) will be required to re-qualify with his/her duty/assigned weapon, prior to returning to full duty. (6.3.8.5)
   2. Witness or Victim Officer
      1. A Witness Officer or a Victim Officer may request a referral to the Department mental health specialist. Upon receiving such a request, the duty supervisor shall initiate the following:
         1. Immediately place the Witness or Victim Officer on modified duty status.
         2. Contact the University Police Chief.
            1. An appointment, at the expense of the Department, will be made with the Department's mental health specialist.
         3. After the evaluation of the Witness or Victim Officer(s) the mental health specialist will advise the Chief of Police of his/her findings. Based on the findings, the Chief shall make a duty status determination.
9. Follow-up Internal Investigation Phase
   1. After review by the District Attorney's office and adjudication of any criminal charges, the Chief of Police, or designee, shall convene a "Deadly Force Incident Review Board" to make the following decisions:
      1. The Deadly Force Incident Review Board will consist of:
         1. Sergeant (if not involved) – Chair

1a. Chief of Police (if Sergeant is involved) - Chair

2. UW-Platteville Police Department DAAT/Firearms/ or Use of Force certified instructor.
3. At least one certified DAAT Instructor and/or certified Firearms Instructor from another outside agency.

2. The board's responsibility is to review the Deadly Force Incident and report their findings to the Chief of Police. The report will answer the following questions:
   1. How did the Deadly Use of Force occur?
   2. Was the use of deadly force within Policy?
   3. Was the use of deadly force:
      1. Accidental?
      2. Intentional?
      3. Negligence?
   4. Did the Involved Officer(s) employ procedures consistent with training?
   5. Was the supervision adequate?
   6. Is additional information needed to make a finding?
3. A report from the board shall be forwarded to the Chief of Police making one of the following findings:
   1. That the use of force was in compliance with policy and training and no further action is required.
   2. That the use of force was not in compliance with policy and training.
      1. If it is found that the use of force was not in compliance with policy, training or state law, the Chief of Police shall determine if disciplinary action is warranted.

10. Long Term Care Follow-Up (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (6.3.8.7)
    1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may not arise immediately, or the officer may attempt to hide the problem, therefore each officer is responsible for monitoring the behavior of Department members for symptoms of PTSD.
    2. Any employee may recommend, through the chain of command, that an officer seek assistance or counseling from a specialist upon reasonable belief that stress may be disrupting the officer's duty performance.
    3. The Department shall provide employees with training pertaining to post-traumatic stress disorders and the uniform procedures contained in this Policy.
    4. The Police Chief is responsible for making available to Department employees’ information about appropriate services.
    5. The Department will make every effort to provide or make available appropriate services for the officer, and/or the officer’s family at no expense to the employee, when involved in an incident involving injury or death. (6.3.8.4)
       1. The purpose of these services will be to allow the officer to express his/her feelings and to deal with the moral/ethical and/or psychological after effects of the incident.’
       2. The purpose making available these services to the family of the officer is to provide the officer and family with a source of professional consultation to aid them in dealing with the potential societal, moral, ethical, and/or psychological after effects of the incident.
       3. Psychological services shall not be related to any Department investigation of the incident. The counseling sessions will remain protected by the privileged physician-patient relationship and no reports of the sessions or information discussed will be filed with the department.
11. Legal Services (6.3.8.4)
    1. If the Department determines any officer involved in a deadly force incident involving injury or death has acted within the scope of their employment, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will provide legal services as provided in Wis. Stats. §895.46. and §164 Law Enforcement ‘Bill of Rights’.