Lawmakers discuss the push for outside investigations into police-involved deaths

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Last spring, Wisconsin became the first state to adopt a law requiring outside investigations into police-involved deaths. A co-sponsor of that bill now wants to add to the law.

Last April, when Governor Walker singed Act 348, it became Wisconsin law that following an officer-involved death, an outside agency must lead the investigation.

State Representative Chris Taylor co-sponsored the bill.

"It was a first step toward a fairer process, a more independent process," said Taylor.

Taylor says she wants to add to the law. The Madison democrat says she's drafting a bill to create a seven-member review board, including a civilian representative. It would review the outside investigations before sending them to the local district attorney.

"To make sure everything was done correctly, to make sure there are no lingering thoughts, to make sure there are no lingering questions or any evidence that wasn't looked at," said Taylor.

Taylor also wants to require immediate blood draws from officers who use deadly force.

"This is the kind of investigation that is not for novices," said Attorney General Brad Schimel.

Schimel says so far in 2015, the Department of Justice has been asked to investigate six officer-involved incidents, including the death of Tony Robinson. He's asked for the authority to shift funds so he can hire five additions investigators.

"When the law went into place, more agencies simply decided they were going to turn to the Division of Criminal Investigation, more than was anticipated," said Schimel.

Governor Walker did not include that request in his proposed budget. However, the request can still make it into the budget through the joint committee on the finance, a committee on which Taylor serves.

"If we're true and we're really going to support this process, which everyone voted for, it has tremendous support throughout the state -- then we have to fund it," said Taylor.

Taylor says the ideas for both the review panel and mandatory blood draws were discussed as part of the original bill but never made it into the final draft.

The other co-sponsor of last year's bill, Door County republican Garey Bies, has since retired.