Wisconsin Law Would Mandate Outside Investigations for Officer-Involved Deaths

A Wisconson state law could soon go into effect that would require outside agencies to investigate officer-involved deaths, reports the Associated Press . Supporters of the law say that it will assure the public that the police are not protecting their own when investigating deadly force incidents. The bill passed the Legislature earlier this year and Gov. Scott Walker has signaled he will sign it into law soon.

The bill would allow agencies to conduct internal investigations but they would also have to launch a criminal investigation involving at least two outside investigators. 

Most smaller Wisconsin departments already rely on outside investigators because they lack manpower and want to avoid the appearance they’re covering up for their own.