Wisconsin Police Shooting Lawyers

When Police Use Deadly Force Unlawfully, Families Deserve Justice

Police officers are authorized to use deadly force only when it is objectively reasonable — specifically, when the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. This standard, established in Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor, is not met simply because an officer felt afraid or made a split-second misjudgment. When deadly force is used against an unarmed person, someone fleeing on foot, or someone experiencing a mental health crisis, the use of deadly force can be questionable.

Strang Bradley represents victims of police shootings and the families of those who were killed anywhere in Wisconsin. These are among the most serious civil rights cases there are, and we bring the full force of our experience and commitment to every client faced with this circumstance.

When Is a Police Shooting Unlawful?

• Shooting an unarmed person who posed no imminent threat of death or serious injury
• Shooting a fleeing suspect who was not armed and did not pose a threat to others (prohibited by Tennessee v. Garner)
• Shooting a person in a mental health crisis who could have been safely subdued or de-escalated
• Shooting based on a mistaken assumption about a weapon that was not, in fact, present
• Continued shooting after a person is clearly incapacitated and no longer poses a threat

The Investigation after a Police Shooting

After an officer-involved shooting, law enforcement agencies may investigate themselves, or another agency may investigate. Evidence — body camera footage, dashcam recordings, witness accounts — can be withheld, lost, or delayed. Official narratives are often shaped before outside attorneys can intervene. Acting quickly, preserving evidence, and retaining independent experts is critical. At Strang Bradley, we move quickly when called upon to represent clients and their families in police-shooting cases.

What Families Should Do After a Police Shooting

1. Contact a civil rights attorney immediately. The investigation is already underway — the agency is protecting itself. You need legal representation now.
2. Preserve all evidence you can: communications, photographs, and any video recorded by bystanders.
3. Identify all witnesses and secure their contact information.
4. Request an independent autopsy if there is any dispute about the cause or circumstances of death.
5. Contact an attorney before making any formal statements to law enforcement.

Constitutional and Wisconsin Law

Police shooting claims are brought under the Fourth Amendment through 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In cases involving death, the decedent’s estate and certain family members may bring a wrongful death claim. Monell liability may attach if the shooting reflects inadequate training, a failure to discipline officers with prior misconduct, or a departmental policy or custom.

Compensation That May Be Available From A Police Shooting

• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members, including loss of companionship, support, and society
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical expenses incurred before death
• Loss of future income and financial support to the family
• Compensation for the pain and suffering of the decedent
• Punitive damages against the officer individually in appropriate cases
• Attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988

Why Choose Strang Bradley for a Police Shooting Case

Police shooting cases require extraordinary legal skill and resolve. Officers assert qualified immunity. Agencies withhold records. Juries are skeptical. Our attorneys have spent their careers litigating against institutions that have every incentive to deny accountability. We know how to challenge qualified immunity defenses, retain ballistics and forensic experts, obtain and analyze body camera footage, and present these cases to juries with the clarity and force they deserve.