TMJ4 is asking the Milwaukee Police chief questions that families of innocent pursuit victims say they want answered.
This comes after the deadliest year of Milwaukee police pursuits as far back as we could find.
TMJ4’s Lighthouse team started investigating deadly pursuits back in September after seven people died in Milwaukee chases at that point in 2023.
At the time, we were told by the department that all of the deadly pursuits from last year were still under investigation. We had to go back a few years to analyze what happened in ten deadly pursuits.
From frightening speeds and reckless driving to lives lost in t-bone crashes and rollover wrecks, video from dash and body cameras shows us the perspective from inside the primary squad in pursuit.
Police pursuits skyrocketed after the Fire and Police Commission changed M.P.D. police in 2017. It directed officers to chase reckless drivers and mobile drug traffickers.
Since then, data shows 23 people have died in chases. That’s compared to six deaths in the same amount of time leading up to the policy shift.
"I get all the time, the feedback, they want us to engage,” said Chief Jeffrey Norman.
After weeks of requests, Chief Norman agreed to an interview.
“Is that an outcome the department accepts to arrest more people who flee police?” Lighthouse journalist Ben Jordan asked.
“So the most important aspect is what does the public want to do in regards to the reckless driving,” Chief Norman replied.
“Do you think chasing hundreds and hundreds of reckless drivers is putting a dent in the reckless driving problem in Milwaukee?” Jordan asked.
"So the big thing is understanding that we are expected to enforce the traffic laws understanding that there is a need and a desire to have a response for those who are breaking the law within our community,” Norman said.
Let’s go back to the video and police records of the ten deadly pursuits we requested.
In two chases, documents show officers violated department policy.
One for ‘due regard’ for public safety and the ‘necessity of the pursuit’ in rush hour traffic. The internal report says the fleeing driver almost hit two vehicles before crashing into a car on Capitol Dr. and then a house which caught on fire.
In a second chase, we analyzed, police say dash camera video from the primary squad in pursuit doesn’t exist. The pursuit report says the officer at the wheel failed to slow down at four intersections leading up to the wreck. The investigation found the officer violated ‘due regard’. The documents say the officer has had similar issues in previous pursuits.
In both cases, police records show the officers faced no discipline, but rather a police review and training.
We also found two more chases with what appear to be policy violations that weren’t acknowledged by command staff in the pursuit reports.
In one, a supervisor told officers to end the pursuit due to high speeds.
"If he's doing 120 miles an hour, cancel,” the officer said.
The officer told a second squad that was closer to keep up the chase. Police say the supervisor is supposed to have the final say.
And lastly, an officer driving a squad told his supervisor he lost sight of the fleeing car but continued with sirens on. The policy says to stop when they lose sight.
In those two chases, police supervisors determined the officers were in full compliance.
“Is that holding these officers accountable given that these pursuits had the worst outcome?
“Your pursuits span from what, 2017 to 2021, 2022 that you’re talking about?” Chief Norman asked. “
2019 to 2021,” Jordan replied.
“2019 to 2021, and you are talking about an administration that actually started like late 2020. In fact, I was acting {chief} late 2020 and became the permanent {chief} in 2021. How am I to answer that particular question spanning a course of several years right now?” Norman replied.
Last fall, a federally-funded report on the best practices for police pursuits recommended only chasing for two reasons: if a violent crime has already occurred and if there is an immediate risk that the suspect will commit another violent crime.
“I’m very aware of the particular report you referred to,” Chief Norman said.
The Police Executive Research Forum’s report calls out Milwaukee’s police for putting too many lives in danger by chasing reckless drivers.
Chief Norman shared during the interview that he is a member of that non-profit organization.
“Since you’re part of P.E.R.F., how do you feel about this report using Milwaukee as an example of what not to do?” Jordan asked.
"I know Chuck Wexler very well,” Chief Norman replied. "We talk all the time. And always, we have to understand there are people that we serve, he has a different group they serve. I serve the citizens of the city of Milwaukee."
Currently, Milwaukee police officers can only use one intervention tactic. M.P.D. data shows stop sticks are utilized in about seven percent of chases.
That means in a vast majority of Milwaukee pursuits, the only way the driver can be arrested is if they give up, run out of gas, or crash.
“Do you plan to add any intervention tactics?” Jordan asked.
“We’re always looking for any particular opportunity to have safe interventions ensuring that there’s again, we are in an urban environment,” Chief Norman replied.
Chief Norman can now set department policy on his own. It’s something he says is always under review.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
