Attorney general wants positions for officer-involved deaths

By: Associated Press//March 2, 2015//

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel wants the Legislature’s budget committee to give the state Justice Department more positions in the state budget to deal with officer-involved death investigations.

Lawmakers signed a bill last year that requires outside agencies to lead investigations of officer-involved deaths. Schimel told the Joint Finance Committee on Monday that more agencies are turning to the DOJ to handle such investigations even when they involve use of force.

The agency asked Gov. Scott Walker to include funding for five new positions — three agents and two records specialists — to help with the workload. Walker didn’t include the request in his budget proposal.

Schimel told the committee that officer-involved death investigations are time-consuming and asked the panel to reinstate the positions request.

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