CITY OF BROOKFIELD, Wis. — City of Brookfield’s police chief is standing by his officer actions after they detained two people and let go after a high-risk traffic stop.
Chief Christopher Garcia clarifies what happened when officers responded to a Flock camera system alert around 4:46 p.m. on August 6. These are the automated alerts received by law enforcement regarding vehicles that are linked to crimes or missing persons.
Garcia says the alert was for a vehicle “associated with a homicide in the City of Milwaukee involving a suspect believed to be armed with a firearm”.
Brookfield officers found the car traveling westbound on I-94 and detained the two people inside following a “high-risk traffic stop”.
After learning that Milwaukee police were no longer interested in the car or the people, Brookfield officers let them know.
Chief Garcia says in a statement to 620 WTMJ:
Based on this initial investigation, I have determined that City of Brookfield officers did not stop the “wrong” vehicle, as has been reported by local media. They did in fact stop the vehicle that was the subject of the Flock alert. They performed their duties as I would expect them to. They clearly had sufficient information and objective facts to support taking the actions they did. Their actions were consistent with the components of reasonable suspicion, probable cause and objective reasonableness; which are the legal standards by which police officers’ actions are judged.
I fully support the decisions and actions taken by our officers. I have always been and continue to be extremely proud of their work, professionalism and commitment to providing the highest level of policing services for our community.
