Pat Dollard

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Wisconsin State Journal:

Two Wisconsin National Guardsmen filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Wisconsin Dells, its police chief and three officers because they were forced to lap up what was believed to be human urine from the ground last summer.

The officers were both registered Democrats and had been told by the Guradsmen that they were veterans of the Iraq war.

The guardsmen, both of whom have served two tours of duty in Iraq, were in the Dells for weekend training and were stopped by police officers Wayne W. Thomas and Collin H. Jacobson early the morning of June 1 and accused of having urinated in public, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Madison.

The officers pointed out a wet spot in an alley that they thought was urine, the lawsuit states, but the guardsmen, Sgt. Anthony R. Anderson, of West Bend, and Specialist Robert C. Schiman, of Kaukauna, denied having relieved themselves in the alley.

In order to prove that it was not their urine and avoid a citation, Thomas and Jacobson made Anderson and Schiman lick the ground and scrape mud up with their hands and lick it, according to the lawsuit.

Schiman also was made to eat a plant that was drenched in the liquid, the lawsuit states.

A third officer, Scott Albrecht, arrived at the scene and was told by Jacobson, “I can’t stop laughing. Wayne just made those two guys lick their own piss off the ground,” according to the lawsuit.

The suit alleges infliction of emotional distress on the soldiers; negligent hiring, training and supervision of Thomas and Jacobson; false imprisonment and violation of the Constitutional and civil rights of Anderson and Schiman.

It seeks $600,000 in compensatory and punitive damages for each of the guardsmen, along with other unspecified damages and costs.

Their attorney, Jason Baltz of Whitefish Bay, declined to comment on the lawsuit and said he had instructed his clients not to comment as well.

Wisconsin Dells Police Chief Bret Anderson, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, also declined to comment. He referred questions to City Attorney James Gerlach.

The lawsuit states that Thomas, 19, was fired the same day as the incident and Jacobson, 20, was suspended for two weeks without pay. Both were limited term police officers.

Albrecht was cited by the department for failing to follow procedures.

According to the lawsuit: After having forced Anderson and Schiman to lick the wet ground, Anderson was made to do it again after one of the officers said he didn’t see it. “That’s not good enough,” the officer said. “Do you want a ticket?”

After the two were released from the scene without being cited, they told their story to Albrecht. As Albrecht stood by, Anderson and Schiman asked Thomas and Jacobson for the name of their commanding officer, but were threatened with burglary charges if they filed a complaint. The police officers told the soldiers that nobody would believe them.

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After the two soldiers filed complaints that night, Sgt. Perry Mayer, the commander on duty, interviewed the three police officers and looked at the scene of the incident. He later issued a report recommending action against the three officers.

“It is the mission of the Wisconsin Dells Police Department to work together with the community providing the highest level of service and professionalism, while assuring fair and equal treatment to all.”

Bret B. Anderson, Chief of Police

To Contact Us:

Wisconsin Dells Police Department
712 Oak Street
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 253-1611
(608) 254-4375 Fax
(608) 253-5300 Voice

Or email at info@wdpd.com