Questions raised about MPD procedures following deadly officer-involved shooting

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- Concerns are being raised about how Milwaukee police handle the remains of someone killed by an officer.

The topic was discussed during a Public Safety and Health Committee meeting Friday.

The concern was raised following an incident last month where cellphone video circulated the internet showing MPD officers dragging the body of Herman Lucas, 31, who was shot and killed after a pursuit.

"I recognize that case is still being investigated and we won't be able to talk about that case specifically, but it did spark the thought or idea about what are the protocols and procedures that police are supposed to handle deceased or injured folks," said District 6 Alderwoman Milele Coggs.

District 2 Alderman Mark Chambers brought the issue to the Public Safety and Health Committee for discussion in hopes of getting some answers from MPD about standard operating procedures (SOP).

"There is not a specific SOP that gives guidance with respect to this area," said Leon Todd, executive director of the Fire and Police Commission.

Todd says while there are standard procedures for how officers should handle someone who is injured and needs medical care, those rules don't specifically address this concern.

"They don't specifically relate to how officers would treat the body of a deceased individual. That is more based, on my understanding, a matter of training that MPD officers receive," said Todd.

There were no official motions made regarding this during the meeting, but Coggs hopes to revisit the issue with the committee next month. By then, the investigation into the police incident that sparked the concern will be complete and the findings of that investigation can be included in the conversation.