The U.S. Justice Department will review the shooting death of an intoxicated man by a Madison police officer. U.S. Attorney John Vaudreuil asked for the probe, after his office received dozens of letters asking for an independent review of Paul Heenan’s death.
Heenan, 30, mistakenly entered a neighbor’s house while drunk on November 9, and got into a brief scuffle with homeowner Kevin O’Malley, who was trying to get Heenan to his own house. When officer Stephen Heimsness arrived, he ordered Heenen to the ground. According to the police department’s own internal investigation, Heenan then grabbed the officer’s arm and reached for his gun. Heimsness pushed back. and shot Heenan three times.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is expected to take a few weeks to investigate. Madison Police officials said the officer did not violate policies on deadly force.
