MONONA, Wis. — A police chase that started in Monona, Wis., resulted in the deaths of three people.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice said it is investigating the crash. The crash occurred near the intersection of Femrite Drive and Buckeye Road in Cottage Grove, Wis., on the night of Jan. 1.
Torn tree bark and metallic balloons left to honor the lives lost now mark the spot where two 30-year-olds and a 19-year-old lost their lives in the crash. Their names have not been released.
“Nobody likes to see anyone losing their life,” Monona Mayor Mary O’Connor said. “Unfortunately, people make some bad decisions at times, and this is hard for everyone involved.”
In a pre-recorded statement, Monona Police Chief Brian Chaney announced a temporary policy change for his department. It’s shifting its policy on police pursuits to focus only on suspects believed to be involved in dangerous and violent felony offenses.
“This is a policy revision that is put in place while members of the Monona community and its elected officials have the opportunity to weigh in on what is best for Monona,” said Chaney.
Monona Alder Patrick DePula said he supports this decision.
“I think any policy should be reviewed from time to time to make sure that it’s keeping up with the requirements and the expected results are received,” he said.
The Monona Police Department’s pursuit policy was last changed in Nov. 2022. At that time, the common council approved easing restrictions on police pursuits, broadening the circumstances in which police officers could initiate a pursuit.
Mayor O’Connor clarified the new temporary stance.
“It’s not that we’ve totally stopped doing pursuits,” she said. “They still will be doing pursuits in the appropriate circumstances for cases of felonies and things like that, where they feel that it’s necessary. They have a fair amount of discretion.”
The Monona police officers involved in the chase on New Year’s Day remain on paid leave, which is standard protocol when there is a death investigation.
