Use Of Force Expert To Review Jacob Blake Police Shooting Before Decision On Charges

Wray, who is Black and served as Madison’s top cop for nine years before he announced his retirement in 2013, said “this is Wisconsin’s moment of truth,” adding that he plans to do a “fair and complete review,” moving with “deliberate speed.”

The announcement came Monday, as Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Gravely provided an update on the state’s investigation into the August 23 shooting of Blake by a Kenosha police officer who had answered a domestic disturbance call; Blake’s family said he is paralyzed from the waist down.

The Blake shooting led to days of unrest which turned deadly when 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse traveled from nearby Antioch, Illinois to Kenosha reportedly to protect property, and allegedly shot three protesters, killing two.

Kaul said the bulk of the initial investigation by the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation into the Blake shooting — speaking with witnesses, gathering evidence — has been completed, but said the case will not go to the district attorney for a charging decision until after Wray’s review, for which no time frame was given.

Gravely described Wray, who served as a “monitor” following the police shooting of Tamir Rice, as a national expert on the use of force in law enforcement, implicit bias and racism.

While head of the Madison force, Wray was given high marks for building relationships and trust between officers and community members, but the department faced criticism for a fatal police shooting that occurred when an intoxicated man entered a neighbor’s home, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.