Dane County investigators looked into the amount of force officers used to arrest 18-year-old Genele Laird, an African-American woman, on June 23. Cellphone video went viral of Laird’s arrest, in which the Madison officer struck and used a Taser on Laird multiple times in an effort to take her into custody.
The report states, “based on the totality of the circumstances confronting each officer at the time force was used, the actions of [the officers] were objectively reasonable and consistent with MPD policy as well as training provided by the State of Wisconsin.”
A statement from MPD Chief Mike Koval said the investigation’s findings were consistent with the findings of the Dane County District Attorney and an internal review by the Madison Police Department.
“These findings do not mean that we are not committed to working with the community to explore ways to do better,” Koval wrote. “As Chief, I do acknowledge this pain and I am sorry that this incident has been the source of so much hurt, anger, and fear for many in our community.”
Several Madison community leaders have filed two complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin against the Madison Police Department.