Milwaukee Releases Body-Worn Camera Video of Officer-Involved Death During Open Investigation
Key Points
Just 15 days after a Milwaukee police officer shot and killed Printis Smith, Milwaukee police released their body-worn camera video of the shooting while the outside investigation was still open.
Sixty-four days after a Madison police officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz, Madison police have yet to release any video or other records of the shooting.
City Attorney Michael Haas claims the same state laws Milwaukee must follow require Madison to wait for the state investigation and the district attorney’s review to conclude before releasing its video.
On Wednesday, September 23, just 15 days after a fatal police shooting, the Milwaukee Police Department posted body-worn camera (BWC) video of the shooting on its YouTube channel.[1] A Milwaukee police officer shot and killed Printis Smith, 23, on September 8, after a car chase.[2][3]
Milwaukee Police Department body-worn camera video of the September 8, 2026, police shooting that killed Printis Smith, 23. Milwaukee police posted the video on September 23, just 15 days after the shooting. Video: Milwaukee Police Department.
The Wauwatosa Police Department is conducting the outside investigation that state law requires after an officer-involved death.[2][3][4] Milwaukee police released the Smith video while the Wauwatosa investigation was still open and before the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office decided whether to file charges.[3][4]
A Madison Police Department (MPD) officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz, 38, on July 22.[5] Sixty-four days later, Madison police have yet to release video or any other records in their possession related to the shooting.[6] The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating the shooting.[7] When DCI finishes, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne will decide whether to file charges.[7][8]
Haas claims state law bars MPD from releasing its records of the Ruiz shooting until DCI finishes its investigation and the district attorney reviews the file.[9][10] Milwaukee follows the same state laws on police investigations and public records as Madison, yet released its body-worn camera video 15 days after the shooting while the investigation was ongoing.[1][3]
Haas’s conflicting statements on state law and the release of MPD records
Haas wrote to all alders on August 4 that his office’s opinion on the Ruiz records “has been the standard application of the law throughout Wisconsin.”[11] Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, did not wait.[1][3] Haas’s own statements about MPD’s records conflict in two ways.
Haas says MPD’s records are DCI’s, yet says MPD keeps custody of them
In the same August 4 email, Haas told alders that MPD’s records of the Ruiz shooting were under DCI’s control: “They are not MPD’s records to release.”[11] Haas’s August 15 formal opinion on releasing MPD records makes the same claim: “The records of MPD are actually records of DCI’s open and active investigation and therefore cannot be released until that investigation is complete.”[10]
Yet the same opinion refers to the records as MPD’s: “In this case MPD cannot share its records or evidence without approval of DCI and the Dane County District Attorney.”[12] The opinion also says MPD “retains custody of its records.”[13]
The conflicting statements raise the question: Which is it?
I asked MPD whether it kept copies of the records it gave DCI. On August 12, MPD spokesperson Stephanie Fryer answered: “Yes, MPD retains copies of everything that was turned over to DCI; however, DCI may also have records they collected that were not shared with MPD.”[14]
None of the four officers detaining Ruiz wore a body-worn camera, but Madison police cruisers carry dashboard and backseat cameras.[15][16] After the shooting, MPD Chief John Patterson said cellphone videos recorded by passersby do not show the officers’ perspective and that additional video, not yet released, was being reviewed.[16]
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s guide to the Public Records Law says a police department and a district attorney are “separate authorities for purposes of the public records law.”[17] When a police department sends its report to the district attorney and keeps a copy, the police department “must perform the usual public records analysis” when someone asks for its report.[17] MPD and DCI are also separate agencies, and MPD kept copies of everything it gave DCI.[14]
The entire text of Wis. Stat. § 175.47, the state law that requires an outside investigation of an officer-involved death, reads:[18]
175.47 Review of deaths involving officers. (1) In this section:
(a) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (b).
(b) “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).
(c) “Officer-involved death” means a death of an individual that results directly from an action or an omission of a law enforcement officer while the law enforcement officer is on duty or while the law enforcement officer is off duty but performing activities that are within the scope of his or her law enforcement duties.
(2) Each law enforcement agency shall have a written policy regarding the investigation of officer-involved deaths that involve a law enforcement officer employed by the law enforcement agency.
(3) (a) Each policy under sub. (2) must require an investigation conducted by at least 2 investigators, one of whom is the lead investigator and neither of whom is employed by a law enforcement agency that employs a law enforcement officer involved in the officer-involved death.
(b) If the officer-involved death being investigated is traffic-related, the policy under sub. (2) must require the investigation to use a crash reconstruction unit from a law enforcement agency that does not employ a law enforcement officer involved in the officer-involved death being investigated, except that a policy for a state law enforcement agency may allow an investigation involving a law enforcement officer employed by that state law enforcement agency to use a crash reconstruction unit from the same state law enforcement agency.
(c) Each policy under sub. (2) may allow an internal investigation into the officer-involved death if the internal investigation does not interfere with the investigation conducted under par. (a).
(4) Compensation for participation in an investigation under sub. (3) (a) may be determined in a manner consistent with mutual aid agreements.
(5) (a) The investigators conducting the investigation under sub. (3) (a) shall, in an expeditious manner, provide a complete report to the district attorney of the county in which the officer-involved death occurred.
(b) If the district attorney determines there is no basis to prosecute the law enforcement officer involved in the officer-involved death, the investigators conducting the investigation under sub. (3) (a) shall release the report, except that the investigators shall, before releasing the report, delete any information that would not be subject to disclosure pursuant to a request under s. 19.35 (1) (a).
That is the entire law, and it does not say what Haas says it does. It does not mention video or evidence, put MPD’s records under DCI’s control, or bar MPD from releasing them.
Haas says release could interfere with DCI’s investigation, then says only DCI can decide what interferes
The August 4 email also said MPD’s Ruiz records cannot be released while DCI’s investigation is open and active “because of the potential impact on the criminal investigation and any potential legal proceedings.”[11]
However, Haas’s August 15 opinion says the City cannot make that judgment: “The City of Madison or its agencies is not in a position to anticipate or determine how its actions might interfere with the DCI investigation; only DCI can do that.”[19]
Milwaukee’s policy requires release of body-worn camera video within 15 days
Milwaukee police follow Standard Operating Procedure 575 (SOP 575), which says: “The department shall release video evidence of the following types of incidents to the public within fifteen (15) days of the incident.”[20] The first type on the list is any officer-involved death.[20]
The policy covers squad car video and 911 recordings as well as body-worn camera video.[20]
SOP 575 says it balances the public’s interest in transparency and police accountability, “the necessity of preserving the integrity of criminal and administrative investigations,” and the privacy of people who appear in the videos.[20] The next sentence reads: “This policy creates a presumption of release.”[20]
Before release, Milwaukee police must “consult and seek feedback from the District Attorney’s Office and the outside investigating agency.”[20] No provision in SOP 575 lets the police chief, the district attorney, or the investigators extend the 15-day deadline.[20]
SOP 575 requires Milwaukee police to redact, edit, or withhold video “to the extent necessary where release is prohibited or limited by law or court order.”[20] If state law barred release during an open investigation, the policy would have required Milwaukee police to withhold the Smith video.
BWCs coming to Madison next year won’t guarantee transparency
On September 22, the Madison Common Council passed a 2027 capital budget that includes money to start an MPD body-worn camera program.[21] On September 24, the Madison Community Foundation announced a $350,000 grant to pay the first year of the program’s operating costs.[22] With the grant, officers in all police districts are expected to have cameras by the end of 2027.[22] Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said that before the cameras are rolled out, the City must develop a policy on how the video and audio recordings will be handled to protect people’s privacy.[22]
No MPD policy sets a deadline for releasing video of a fatal police shooting.[23][24][25][26] According to Haas’s August 15 opinion, MPD records of a police shooting, including body-worn camera video, cannot be released while the case remains open and active.[10][27] Only DCI can allow an earlier release.[10]
In the death of Richard Johnson, 32, the case stayed open for more than 10 months.[28] Johnson died on December 31, 2024, the day after MPD officers took him into custody after a foot chase.[28][29] DCI investigated, and on November 4, 2025, Ozanne decided not to charge the officers.[28][29] He told Johnson’s family about his decision more than a month later.[28]
On December 18, 2025, the Cap Times reported that state investigators still had not published their records of the Johnson investigation.[28] Johnson’s mother, Gloria Johnson Vinson, had set out on her own to learn what happened to her son. She had not received an explanation from state investigators, Madison officers, or the district attorney.[28]
Printis Smith’s family in Milwaukee saw the video of his shooting within 48 hours.[30]
The President’s Workgroup treats Haas’s opinion as binding
On September 8, Common Council President Sabrina Madison created the President’s Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures.[30] The workgroup’s members are Alder John Guequierre, who chairs it, Alder Regina Vidaver, Alder Badri Lankella, Alder Tag Evers, and Council President Madison.[30]
The workgroup plans to propose a body-worn camera policy to the Common Council in December.[26] The workgroup’s introductory presentation lists Haas’s opinion among its assumptions: “This opinion is binding unless superseded by clarifying state legislation or the opinion of a court with jurisdiction.”[26] The presentation says the opinion will have “some impact” on when the workgroup’s policy lets body-worn camera video be released.[26]
Haas’s opinion does not bind the Common Council
The workgroup’s presentation cites no law that makes Haas’s opinion binding.[27] Haas does not call his August 15 opinion binding. In the opinion, Haas wrote: “The responsibility of the City Attorney’s Office is to provide our best judgment about what Wisconsin law requires, allows and prohibits.”[32] Madison’s ordinances make Haas’s office the “legal advisor to the Council, the Mayor and all departments and offices of the City.”[32]
State law requires a city attorney to give written legal opinions when city officers ask for them, and nothing in that law requires the Common Council to follow them.[33] State law also lets the Council hire its own lawyer to “take charge of any matter in which the city is interested.”[33]
In 2009, City Attorney Michael May warned the Common Council that it had no authority to exempt nonprofit housing agencies from property taxes.[34] The Council disregarded May’s advice and voted 13-6 to give three nonprofits a two-month grace period.[34] Alder Larry Palm said of May’s advice: “Well, we’re not breaking the law, we’re breaking his opinion of what the law is.”[34]
In July 2020, Haas advised the alder workgroup drafting the ordinance to create Madison’s Independent Police Monitor that a court might not enforce some of the Monitor’s subpoenas.[35] Haas wrote that the workgroup and the Council could choose to “leave the resolution of any potential legal issues to experience and future developments.”[35]
The workgroup wants the Common Council to act on its body-worn camera policy at the Council’s January 12, 2027, meeting.[27] The Council, not Haas, can decide whether the body-worn camera policy includes a release deadline.
Questions for City Attorney Michael Haas
On September 23, I sent Haas these three questions:
Milwaukee follows the same state law as Madison. Why can Milwaukee release video during an open investigation when Madison can’t?
Has the City asked DCI in writing whether MPD can release any Ruiz records now, such as squad car video or 911 recordings? If so, when did the City ask, and what did DCI say?
MPD officers start wearing body cameras in 2027. Could the Common Council adopt a policy like Milwaukee’s that would require the MPD to release video of a police shooting within 15 days? If not, why not?
As of publication, I have not received a response from Haas.
You can push for a release deadline
To improve transparency and accountability at City Hall, speak up. Here is what you can do:
Speak or watch at the President’s Workgroup’s first meeting, Friday, September 25, at 5:00 p.m., online.[26][31] The agenda includes public comment.[32] You can register to speak, watch online, or call (877) 853-5257 and enter Webinar ID 864 6045 1151.[31]
Send written comments to the workgroup at P3UpdateWG@cityofmadison.com.[31]
Ask the workgroup to put a release deadline in its body-worn camera policy. Milwaukee police must release video within 15 days of the incident, after first consulting the district attorney and the outside investigators.[20]
Email all alders at allalders@cityofmadison.com. Ask them to request two things from Patterson and Haas: ask DCI in writing which Ruiz records MPD can release now, and make DCI’s answer public.
Share this post with your neighbors and your neighborhood association.
My Bottom Line: Michael Haas’s opinion, not state law, is making Madison wait
The City of Madison and the City of Milwaukee must follow the same state laws. Why can Milwaukee release body-worn camera video of an officer-involved shooting 15 days after it happens, yet Madison needs to wait until the investigation is complete and the district attorney decides whether to file charges?
77SquareMiles.com covers the votes, the money, and the process at Madison City Hall that mainstream media misses.
© Alex Saloutos 2026.
Footnotes
[1] FOX6 News Digital Team, “Bodycam video: Milwaukee police shooting near 37th and Wright,” FOX6 News, Sept. 23, 2026, https://www.fox6now.com/news/milwaukee-police-shooting-37th-wright-video
[2] Jen Greg and Elizabeth Lintonen, “UPDATE: Man identified after shootout with police, Milwaukee Police officer injured,” WTMJ, Sept. 8, 2026, updated Sept. 10, 2026, https://wtmj.com/news/2026/09/08/update-man-identified-after-shootout-with-police-milwaukee-police-officer-injured/
[3] Hannah Hilyard and Taylor Lang, “Police release body camera footage of deadly shooting of 23-year-old; questions remain,” WISN 12 News, Sept. 23, 2026, https://www.wisn.com/article/milwaukee-bodycam-police-deadly-shooting-printis-smith/73858042
[4] Nick Bohr, “Family questions police shooting of Milwaukee man after viewing body camera footage,” WISN 12 News, Sept. 11, 2026, https://www.wisn.com/article/family-questions-police-shooting-of-milwaukee-man-after-viewing-body-camera-footage/73693031
[5] Danielle DuClos, “Here’s what to expect from the Madison police shooting investigations,” Cap Times, July 28, 2026, https://captimes.com/news/government/heres-what-to-expect-from-the-madison-police-shooting-investigations/article_129447fc-1816-43db-8b88-c58b65819f43.html
[6] Sources for this statement: the Office of the Independent Police Monitor’s petition in Glass v. Patterson, Dane County Circuit Court Case No. 2026CV002709, Aug. 20, 2026; Robert Chappell, Madison365, Aug. 24, 2026, https://madison365.com/police-monitor-goes-to-court-demanding-evidence-in-corey-ruiz-shooting-death/; and the Mayor’s Office FAQ, last modified Aug. 25, 2026, https://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/priorities/community-faq. News coverage through Sept. 23, 2026, reports no later release of MPD’s records of the shooting.
[7] City of Madison Mayor’s Office, “Officer-Involved Shooting on July 22,” frequently asked questions, page last modified Aug. 25, 2026, https://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/priorities/community-faq
[8] Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, statement regarding the officer-involved shooting incident of July 22, 2026, July 31, 2026, https://da.danecounty.gov/documents/pdf/pr/2026-July-31---DA-Ozanne-s-Statement-Regarding-the-Officer-Involved-Shooting-Incident-that-Occurred-on-July-22--2026.pdf
[9] City of Madison Office of the City Attorney, Formal Opinion No. 2026-001, “Law Governing Release of Records Related to Officer-Involved Death Investigations,” Aug. 15, 2026, p. 2, https://www.cityofmadison.com/attorney/documents/opinions/OCA%20Formal%20Opinion%20re%20Release%20of%20MPD%20Records%20with%20attachments.pdf
[10] City of Madison Office of the City Attorney, Formal Opinion No. 2026-001, “Law Governing Release of Records Related to Officer-Involved Death Investigations,” Aug. 15, 2026, p. 10, https://www.cityofmadison.com/attorney/documents/opinions/OCA%20Formal%20Opinion%20re%20Release%20of%20MPD%20Records%20with%20attachments.pdf
[11] City Attorney Michael Haas, email to All Alders, “Release of MPD records,” Aug. 4, 2026, 5:32 p.m., with a correction sent at 7:05 p.m., Legistar 94186, https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15744749&GUID=55E715B8-1B73-4263-9CD0-F696AD9F9C0B
[12] City of Madison Office of the City Attorney, Formal Opinion No. 2026-001, “Law Governing Release of Records Related to Officer-Involved Death Investigations,” Aug. 15, 2026, p. 1, https://www.cityofmadison.com/attorney/documents/opinions/OCA%20Formal%20Opinion%20re%20Release%20of%20MPD%20Records%20with%20attachments.pdf
[13] City of Madison Office of the City Attorney, Formal Opinion No. 2026-001, “Law Governing Release of Records Related to Officer-Involved Death Investigations,” Aug. 15, 2026, p. 9, https://www.cityofmadison.com/attorney/documents/opinions/OCA%20Formal%20Opinion%20re%20Release%20of%20MPD%20Records%20with%20attachments.pdf
[14] Stephanie Fryer, Madison Police Department, email to Alex Saloutos, Aug. 12, 2026.
[15] Sarah Lehr, WPR, “Madison revisits police body cameras after years of debate,” Wisconsin Watch, July 28, 2026, https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/madison-revisits-police-body-cameras-after-years-of-debate/
[16] Scott Bauer, Associated Press, “Madison officials identify Corey Ruiz as man police shot and killed,” Wisconsin Watch, July 23, 2026, updated July 28, 2026, https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/madison-officials-identify-corey-ruiz-as-news-conference-erupts-in-protest/
[17] Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of Open Government, Wisconsin Public Records Law Compliance Guide, June 2025, p. 30, https://www.wisdoj.gov/Open%20Government/PRL_guide.pdf
[18] Wis. Stat. § 175.47, 2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/175.pdf
[19] City of Madison Office of the City Attorney, Formal Opinion No. 2026-001, “Law Governing Release of Records Related to Officer-Involved Death Investigations,” Aug. 15, 2026, p. 8, https://www.cityofmadison.com/attorney/documents/opinions/OCA%20Formal%20Opinion%20re%20Release%20of%20MPD%20Records%20with%20attachments.pdf
[20] Milwaukee Police Department, Standard Operating Procedure 575, Video Release Policy, General Order 2023-17, issued Apr. 28, 2023, effective July 17, 2024, sections 575.00, 575.15, 575.20, 575.25, and 575.30, https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/mpdAuthors/SOP/575-VIDEORELEASEPOLICY.pdf
[21] Tabitha Bland, “Madison council passes capital budget, considers police oversight resolution and debates policy report directive,” WMTV, Sept. 22, 2026, https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/09/23/madison-council-passes-capital-budget-considers-police-oversight-resolution-debates-policy-report-directive/
[22] George Wiebe, “Madison police could all have body cameras by the end of 2027 thanks to new grant,” Wisconsin State Journal, Sept. 24, 2026, https://madison.com/news/local/government-politics/article_8eb0d4ce-654d-4480-8368-323a3d8fea26.html
[23] Madison Police Department, Standard Operating Procedure, In-Car Video System, effective Dec. 4, 2025, https://www.cityofmadison.com/police/documents/sop/InCarVideo.pdf
[24] Madison Police Department, Standard Operating Procedure, Records Inspection and Release, effective Dec. 4, 2025, https://www.cityofmadison.com/police/documents/sop/RecordsInspection.pdf
[25] Madison Police Department, Standard Operating Procedure, Officer Involved Deaths and Other Critical Incidents, effective Nov. 24, 2025, https://www.cityofmadison.com/police/documents/sop/officerinvolvedcriticalincidents.pdf
[26] Madison Police Department, Standard Operating Procedure, SWAT Body Worn Cameras, effective Nov. 24, 2025, https://www.cityofmadison.com/police/documents/sop/SWATBodyWornCameras.pdf
[27] City of Madison, agenda packet, President’s Workgroup, Sept. 25, 2026, Introductory Presentation, Legistar 94884 (pp. 14 and 15), and Meeting Schedule, Legistar 94885 (p. 18), https://madison.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1443832&GUID=EBD1551C-30DD-4334-9708-070F064DACD5&Options=&Search=
[28] Danielle DuClos, “DA declines to charge Madison officers in death of Richard Johnson,” Cap Times, Dec. 18, 2025, https://captimes.com/news/government/da-declines-to-charge-madison-officers-in-death-of-richard-johnson/article_1af61ef2-7946-4be8-bfa7-2d7a5d4a32f9.html
[29] Wisconsin Department of Justice, news release, “UPDATE: Officer Involved Death Investigation in Madison, WI,” Jan. 2, 2025, https://www.wisdoj.gov/PressReleases/1.2.25_Madison_OID_Update.pdf
[30] Drake Bentley, “Milwaukee police union president says ‘truth’ will come out as public awaits footage of fatal shooting of Printis Smith by officer,” Milwaukee Courier, Sept. 14, 2026, https://milwaukeecourier.com/news/2026/09/14/milwaukee-police-union-president-says-truth-will-come-out-as-public-awaits-footage-of-fatal-shooting-of-printis-smith-by-officer
[31] Common Council President Sabrina Madison, order creating the President’s Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures, Sept. 8, 2026, https://www.cityofmadison.com/council/documents/news/090826%20Presidents%20Workgroup%20MPD.pdf
[32] City of Madison Office of the City Attorney, Formal Opinion No. 2026-001, “Law Governing Release of Records Related to Officer-Involved Death Investigations,” Aug. 15, 2026, p. 3, including its quotation of Madison General Ordinances § 3.07(1), https://www.cityofmadison.com/attorney/documents/opinions/OCA%20Formal%20Opinion%20re%20Release%20of%20MPD%20Records%20with%20attachments.pdf
[33] Wis. Stat. § 62.09(12)(c) and (g), 2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/62.pdf
[34] Joe Tarr, “Alders clash with Madison city attorney over property tax exemption,” Isthmus, Apr. 30, 2009, https://isthmus.com/news/news/alders-clash-with-madison-city-attorney-over-property-tax-exemption/
[35] City Attorney Michael Haas, memorandum to the Alder Workgroup to Develop Logistics & Operational Details for MPD Independent Civilian Oversight, “Subpoena Authority of Independent Monitor and Civilian Oversight Board,” July 13, 2020, pp. 1 and 6.
[36] City of Madison, meeting page, President’s Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures, Sept. 25, 2026, https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/presidents-workgroup-on-madison-police-department-use-of-deadly/2026-09-25
[37] City of Madison, Legistar meeting details, President’s Workgroup, Sept. 25, 2026, Legistar 94883 (public comment) and Legistar 94886 (work plan structure), https://madison.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1443832&GUID=EBD1551C-30DD-4334-9708-070F064DACD5&Options=&Search=
![On September 8, the Common Council took up a resolution to move $28,500 from the City’s contingent reserve, the fund it keeps for unanticipated expenses, to the Office of the Independent Monitor. The money would have made the office’s part-time data analyst full-time through the end of the year and paid for training.[1] Council President Sabrina Madison voted no, and in her comments during the debate she referred her colleagues to a memo she had requested from City staff and posted on her blog six days earlier.[2][8] The motion to adopt failed, 7 to 12.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/668754_f6d904eb25604ec5b1e8d79545e48328~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_476,h_594,al_c,q_80,enc_avif,quality_auto/668754_f6d904eb25604ec5b1e8d79545e48328~mv2.jpg)
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