Man who shot, injured 3 Wauwatosa police officers sentenced to 40 years in prison

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee County judge sentenced a man to four decades behind bars for a November 2021 incident where he shot and injured three Wauwatosa police officers at a hotel.

Kenneth Burney was inside room 221 at the Radisson Hotel when officers were responding to a separate, unrelated shots fired incident. The WPD officers went door to door to check on the welfare of hotel guests. When they arrived at Burney's room and announced their reason for being there, no one answered the door. After repeated attempts to get whoever was inside to open the door, officers then used a battering ram to get inside in an attempt to gain access to someone who they believed may have been injured from gunfire from the earlier shots fired call.

When officers used the battering ram, Burney shot through the door, hitting three officers.

A jury found him guilty of all counts in the case earlier this year.

Ahead of sentencing, officers shared how the shooting impacted them and their families.

"It was an experience I hope I never have to relive again, watching a friend of mine be shot in front of me," Sgt. Edward Tyrpak said.

"I still have permanent loss of range of motion and continue pain in my hand from this incident," Sgt. Kurt Svatek told the court.

Burney had an opportunity to address the court before being sentenced, in which he expressed remorse.

"Wholeheartedly and honestly, I apologize," Burney said. "[There are] no words that I can say that's going to make them feel any different, no words that's going to take away the pain."

However, Judge Michael Hanrahan said Burney's actions and past pattern of criminal history were deserving of the maximum sentence for each of the charges.

"You knew that they were police officers, and you fired that gun straight at that door where those officers were, it can't get much more serious than that," Hanrahan said.

On top of the charges for firing at the officers, Burney was also convicted on drug possession and intent to distribute charges.