UWM and Oak Creek Police Fail to Release Critical Details of Campus Shooting

The failure to immediately name the police officers involved in the shooting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee last week has contributed to a lack of transparency and disregard for the public’s right to know regarding the incident. On March 19, UW-Milwaukee police officers were called to the fine arts building after a man was found sleeping after hours, according to UWM Chancellor Mark Mone. The man, later identified as Irie Payne, 30, was allegedly found with a weapon during a physical altercation at the scene, according to authorities. Police shot Payne, and he was later taken to the hospital. He is currently recovering from his injuries in jail. (Note: The names of the officers were released by the district attorney’s office after this article was written in a criminal complaint against Payne.)

Little information was given to the public from both the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Oak Creek Police Department, which took over the investigation. Payne’s name was released ten days after the incident and only in a criminal complaint accusing him of bail jumping. Now, almost two weeks since the incident, the names of the officers involved have not been released nor have additional details been released including the cause for lethal force by UW-Milwaukee police officers. Without specific identification of those involved in an incident that demonstrates an extreme exercise of power, the public is kept in the shadows – unable to better understand the incident and circumstances in their entirety.

While a thorough investigation is of utmost importance, the facts of the case must be released to the public immediately as the details have not and will not change. Full transparency includes the type of weapon that Payne was in possession of, the type of weapon the officer used, what type of altercation ensued, how quickly the officer fired their weapon, and how close the officer was to Payne when they shot.

In a society rooted in a system of checks and balances, the public plays a crucial role in overseeing and criticizing institutions meant to serve the greater good to ensure that they do in fact serve the greater good. Without a complete and accurate report of the incident in question, how is the public able to accurately ensure that the matter was handled in an appropriate manner? Full transparency therefore protects citizens as well as those in positions of power of citizens.

To be sure, one may argue that the confidentiality and safety of the officers involved could be threatened by the release of their names, but as civil servants, their information must be available to the public. With regards to the officers’ safety, in the wake of an influx of police brutality cases gaining publicity, failure to release officers’ names in cases such as this one has resulted in increased tension amongst police and civilians. The best course of action for all is complete transparency and continued discourse. And soon.

Complete transparency allows all parties involved a chance to give their perspectives. This particular case affects the entire UW-Milwaukee community including students who may have no experience regarding an incident of this nature. When all of the perspectives are available, students, faculty, and community members are able to feel assured about their safety on campus. Failure to name the police officers involved in the shooting and a detailed incident report has contributed to a lack of transparency and blatant disregard for the public’s right to know.