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County Executive's Office

Deputies Involved in Critical Incidents Cleared

August 03, 2010
Contact: Elise Schaffer, PIO Phone: (608) 284-6142
Sheriff's Office

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is now releasing the names of the deputies involved in the two recent officer involved shootings.

 

In the July 20th incident in the village of McFarland, Tactical Response Team (TRT) members were attempting to place a video camera through a lower level window when Scott D. Stevens fired his handgun at deputies, forcing them to return fire. The deputies who fired their weapons include: Anthony Balistreri (48), with the DCSO for 25 years; Todd Endl (47), 21 years with the DCSO 7 years of prior law enforcement experience; George Mayerhofer (36) 10 years with the DCSO; and James Plenty (38), 10 years with the DCSO 6 years of prior law enforcement experience.

 

In the town of Dunkirk incident on July 28th, patrol deputies responded to a domestic call on Aaker Road where William T. Sorenson had armed himself with a shotgun. Deputies ordered the man to put the gun down, and when he did not comply with the order, one deputy fired a less lethal round at Sorenson. Sorenson then fired his shotgun at deputies, forcing the deputies to return fire. The deputies who fired their weapons in this incident include: Steven French (37) 12 years with the DCSO; Jason Wiest (36) 13 years with the DCSO; Brian McKenzie (36) 12 years with the DCSO; and James Myers (47) 6 years with the DCSO.

 

As in all officer-involved shootings, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office thoroughly conducts both a criminal and administrative investigation. Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard has declared that no criminal liability is possible based on the consistent and extensive evidence that has been assembled since the shootings. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office initial review of the incidents finds that the deputies responded appropriately in these life-threatening situations. The formal administrative review is ongoing for both incidents. As part of the Sheriff’s Office critical incident policy, all of these deputies were placed on administrative leave. The deputies involved have been, or will be, cleared to return to their duties on an individual basis.

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