Chapter 175

175.40(7)(b)1. 1. Make an arrest for a violation of state law or render aid or assistance if the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a felony has been or is being committed in his or her presence and has reasonable grounds for believing that the person to be arrested has committed the felony.

175.40(7)(b)2. 2. Render assistance to a Wisconsin law enforcement officer in an emergency or at the request of the Wisconsin law enforcement officer.

175.40(7)(c) (c) A federal law enforcement officer acting under par. (b) has any immunity from liability or limit on liability to the same extent as a Wisconsin law enforcement officer.

175.40(7)(d) (d) No federal law enforcement officer, acting solely under the authority under par. (b), may be considered, for liability purposes, as an employee or agent of this state or any Wisconsin law enforcement agency for his or her actions within this state. The federal law enforcement officer is considered as continuing to be an employee of the agency employing him or her.

175.40(7)(e) (e) This subsection does not limit any authority to act that a federal law enforcement officer has under federal law.

175.40 History History: 1981 c. 324; 1987 a. 231, 399, 403; 1991 a. 135; 1993 a. 98, 407; 1995 a. 337; 2005 a. 414; 2007 a. 20, 27; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

175.40 Annotation A motorist injured while fleeing police was, as matter of law, more negligent than the pursuing officer. Brunette v. Employers Mutual Liability Insurance Co. of Wisconsin, 107 Wis. 2d 361, 320 N.W.2d 43 (Ct. App. 1982).

175.40 Annotation To determine whether an officer acts in “fresh pursuit” under sub. (2), three criteria are considered: 1) whether the officer acts without unnecessary delay; 2) whether the pursuit is continuous; and 3) whether the time periods are reasonable. City of Brookfield v. Collar, 148 Wis. 2d 839, 436 N.W.2d 911 (Ct. App. 1989).

175.40 Annotation Sub. (4) permits enforcement of one municipality’s ordinance on the entire width of a boundary highway. City of Brookfield v. Berghauer, 170 Wis. 2d 603, 489 N.W.2d 695 (Ct. App. 1992).

175.40 Annotation In addition to issuing a citation for an observed violation, an officer, after observing a traffic violation and pursuing the defendant into another jurisdiction where the stop was made, was entitled to question the defendant beyond the purpose for which the stop was made and to issue citations for other violations when additional suspicious factors came to the officer’s attention during the stop. State v. Haynes, 2001 WI App 266, 248 Wis. 2d 724, 638 N.W.2d 82, 00-3083.

175.40 Annotation Suppression is not required when a police officer acts without authority outside the officer’s jurisdiction. Suppression is not required except when evidence is obtained in violation of a constitutional right or in violation of a statute providing suppression as a remedy. State v. Keith, 2003 WI App 47, 260 Wis. 2d 592, 659 N.W.2d 403, 02-0583.

175.40 Annotation Municipal Police Officers Right to Stop and Arrest in Foreign Jurisdictions. Kershek. Wis. Law. Dec. 1992.

175.403 175.403 Trespassing; arrest and removal.

175.403(1) (1) In this section:

175.403(1)(a) (a) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (b).

175.403(1)(b) (b) “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).

175.403(2) (2) By July 1, 2018, each law enforcement agency shall have a written policy regarding the investigation of complaints alleging a violation of s. 943.14. The policy shall require a law enforcement officer who has probable cause to arrest a person for a violation of s. 943.14 to remove the person from a dwelling.

175.403 History History: 2015 a. 176; 2017 a. 317.

175.41 175.41 Arrest and assistance; wardens employed by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

175.41(1) (1) In this section:

175.41(1)(a) (a) “Ceded territory” means the territory in Wisconsin ceded by the Chippewa Indians to the United States in the treaty of 1837, 7 Stat. 536, and the treaty of 1842, 7 Stat. 591.

175.41(1)(b) (b) “Commission” means the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

175.41(1)(c) (c) “Commission warden” means a conservation warden employed by the commission.

175.41(2) (2) For purposes of civil and criminal liability, a commission warden may, when in fresh pursuit, follow anywhere in the state outside the ceded territory and arrest any of the following:

175.41(2)(a) (a) A Chippewa tribal member for violation of the Chippewa off-reservation conservation code, if the conditions of sub. (3) (a) and (e) are met.

175.41(2)(b) (b) Any person for violation of the laws of this state, if the conditions of sub. (3) (a) to (e) are met.

175.41(3) (3) Within the ceded territory, a commission warden may arrest a person for violation of state law or provide aid or assistance to a Wisconsin peace officer if all of the following criteria are met:

175.41(3)(a) (a) The commission warden is on duty and on official business.

175.41(3)(b) (b) Any of the following applies:

175.41(3)(b)1. 1. The commission warden is responding to any of the following:

175.41(3)(b)1.a. a. An emergency situation that poses a significant threat to life or a significant threat of bodily harm.

175.41(3)(b)1.b. b. Acts that the commission warden believes, on reasonable grounds, constitute a felony.

175.41(3)(b)2. 2. The commission warden is rendering aid or assistance to a Wisconsin peace officer in an emergency or at the request of the Wisconsin peace officer.

175.41(3)(c) (c) The commission warden meets the requirements of s. 165.85 (4) (a) 1., 2., and 7. and has agreed to accept the duties of a law enforcement officer under the laws of this state.

175.41(3)(d) (d) The commission has adopted and implemented written policies regarding making arrests and rendering aid or assistance under this subsection, including a policy on notification to and cooperation with the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which such arrests are made.

175.41(3)(e) (e) The commission maintains liability insurance that does all of the following:

175.41(3)(e)1. 1. Covers the commission and commission wardens for acts and omissions under sub. (4).

175.41(3)(e)2. 2. Has a limit of coverage not less than $2,000,000 for any occurrence.

175.41(3)(e)3. 3. Provides that the insurer, in defending a claim against the policy, may not raise the defense of sovereign immunity of the insured up to the limits of the policy.

175.41(4) (4) Except as otherwise provided in an agreement between the commission and the state or a subdivision of the state, the commission is liable for all acts and omissions of a commission warden while acting under sub. (2) or (3), and neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state may be held liable for any action of a commission warden taken under the authority of sub. (2) or (3). For purposes of civil and criminal liability, a commission warden acting under sub. (2) or (3) is considered to be acting in an official capacity.

175.41(5) (5) Subsections (2) and (3) apply only if the commission has presented evidence to the department of justice of the insurance under sub. (3) (e). Upon receipt of evidence of insurance under sub. (3) (e), the department of justice shall notify the sheriff of each county in the ceded territory that the commission has met this criterion for performing the powers and duties described under subs. (2) and (3).

175.41 History History: 2007 a. 27; 2013 a. 214.

175.42 175.42 Marquette University police department.

175.42(1) (1) In this section:

175.42(1)(a) (a) “University” means Marquette University.

175.42(1)(b) (b) “University police officer” means an officer who is employed by the university police department, who has met the requirements of s. 165.85 (4) (a) 2. and 7. a., and who has agreed to accept the duties of a law enforcement officer under the laws of this state.

175.42(2) (2) 

175.42(2)(a) (a) The university may enter into an agreement with the attorney general or with the city of Milwaukee police department to establish a university police department and employ university police officers for the purposes of maintaining public order, detecting and preventing crime, and enforcing state laws and local ordinances on the grounds of the university and in adjacent areas, as provided for in the agreement. The agreement establishing the university police department is subject to review under s. 62.50 (1m) by the board of fire and police commissioners.

175.42(2)(b) (b)

175.42(2)(b)1. 1. Subject to the terms of the agreement under par. (a), university police officers have the same powers as law enforcement officers employed by the city of Milwaukee to maintain public order, to detect and prevent crime, to enforce state laws and local ordinances, and to make arrests for violations of state laws and local ordinances.

175.42(2)(b)2. 2. The law enforcement powers under subd. 1. of university police officers shall be concurrent with other law enforcement officers.

175.42(2)(b)3. 3. Subject to the terms of the agreement under par. (a), the university may assign additional duties to the university police department, including the enforcement of university regulations.

175.42(2)(c) (c) The university police department shall do all of the following:

175.42(2)(c)1. 1. Ensure that each university police officer meets the requirements of s. 165.85 (4) (a) 2. and 7. a. and has agreed to accept the duties of a law enforcement officer under the laws of this state.

175.42(2)(c)2. 2. Adopt and implement written policies regarding law enforcement activities and rendering aid or assistance under this section, including a policy on notification to and cooperation with a law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which arrests are made.

175.42(2)(c)3. 3. Maintain liability insurance, and present evidence of the insurance to the department of justice, that does all of the following:

175.42(2)(c)3.a. a. Covers the university and university police officers for acts and omissions under sub. (4).

175.42(2)(c)3.b. b. Has a limit of coverage not less than $2,000,000 for any occurrence.

175.42(2)(c)3.c. c. Provides that the insurer, in defending a claim against the policy, may not raise the defense of sovereign immunity of the insured up to the limits of the policy.

175.42(3) (3) For purposes of civil and criminal liability, a university police officer may, when in fresh pursuit, follow anywhere in the state and arrest any person for violation of the laws of this state, if the conditions of sub. (2) (c) are met.

175.42(4) (4) 

175.42(4)(a) (a) Except as otherwise provided in an agreement under sub. (2) (a), the university is liable for all acts and omissions of a university police officer while acting under this section, and neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state may be held liable for any action of a university police officer taken under the authority of this section. For purposes of civil and criminal liability, a university police officer acting under this section is considered to be acting in an official capacity.

175.42(4)(b) (b) The university shall pay in full any judgment in which the university and the state or a political subdivision of the state are found jointly and severally liable for any act of a university police officer taken under this section and shall reimburse the state or political subdivision for all reasonable attorneys fees and expenses incurred in defending the action.

175.42 History History: 2013 a. 265; 2015 a. 195.

175.44 175.44 Law enforcement use of force.

175.44(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

175.44(1)(a) (a) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (b).

175.44(1)(b) (b) “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c) and includes a tactical emergency medical services professional, as defined in s. 165.85 (2) (fh), certified under s. 165.85 (3).

175.44(2) (2) Use of force.

175.44(2)(a) (a) The sanctity of human life. In serving the community, law enforcement officers shall make every effort to preserve and protect human life and the safety of all persons. Law enforcement officers shall also respect and uphold the dignity of all persons at all times in a nondiscriminatory manner.

175.44(2)(b) (b) Use of force. When using force, a law enforcement officer is required to act in good faith to achieve a legitimate law enforcement objective. A law enforcement officer is authorized to use force that is objectively reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances, including:

175.44(2)(b)1. 1. The severity of the alleged crime at issue.

175.44(2)(b)2. 2. Whether the suspect poses an imminent threat to the safety of law enforcement officers or others.

175.44(2)(b)3. 3. Whether the suspect is actively resisting or attempting to evade arrest by flight.

175.44(2)(c) (c) Deadly force. A law enforcement officer may use deadly force only as a last resort when the law enforcement officer reasonably believes that all other options have been exhausted or would be ineffective. A law enforcement officer may use deadly force only to stop behavior that has caused or imminently threatens to cause death or great bodily harm to the law enforcement officer or another person. If both practicable and feasible, a law enforcement officer shall give a verbal warning before using deadly force.

175.44(3) (3) Duty to report noncompliant use of force.

175.44(3)(a) (a) A law enforcement officer who, in the course of his or her law enforcement duties, witnesses another law enforcement officer use force that does not comply with the standards under sub. (2) (b) or (c) in the course of that law enforcement officer’s official duties shall report the noncompliant use of force as soon as is practicable after the occurrence of the use of such force.

175.44(3)(b) (b) A person who intentionally fails to report a noncompliant use of force as required under par. (a) may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

175.44(4) (4) Duty to intervene.

175.44(4)(a) (a) A law enforcement officer shall, without regard for chain of command, intervene to prevent or stop another law enforcement officer from using force that does not comply with the standards under sub. (2) (b) or (c) in the course of that law enforcement officer’s official duties if all of the following apply:

175.44(4)(a)1. 1. The law enforcement officer observes the use of force that does not comply with the standards under sub. (2) (b) or (c).

175.44(4)(a)2. 2. The circumstances are such that it is safe for the law enforcement officer to intervene.

175.44(4)(b) (b) A law enforcement officer who intervenes as required under par. (a) shall report the intervention to his or her immediate supervisor as soon as is practicable after the occurrence of the use of such force.

175.44(4)(c) (c) A person who intentionally fails to intervene as required under par. (a) or intentionally fails to report an intervention as required under par. (b) may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

175.44(5) (5) Whistleblower protections. No law enforcement officer may be discharged, disciplined, demoted, or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment, or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment, or threatened with any such treatment, because the law enforcement officer reported, or is believed to have reported, any noncompliant use of force as required under sub. (3) or (4); intervened to prevent or stop a noncompliant use of force as required under sub. (4); initiated, participated in, or testified in, or is believed to have initiated, participated in, or testified in, any action or proceeding regarding a noncompliant use of force; or provided any information, or is believed to have provided any information, about noncompliant use of force as required under sub. (3) or (4).

175.44 History History: 2021 a. 75; 2023 a. 218.

175.46 175.46 Mutual aid agreements.

175.46(1) (1) In this section:

175.46(1)(a) (a) “Border county” means any of the following: