Travis Karweik worked for the Greenfield Police Department for nearly four years, but resigned in 2021 while under investigation for accusations of reckless driving and other misconduct.

By Hina Suzuki, THE BADGER PROJECT

A newly hired officer at the Wauwatosa Police Department resigned from a previous law enforcement job  after superiors said he displayed “reckless driving, poor decision making and failure in radio communications,” according to documents obtained in a records request.

Officer Travis Karweik was sworn into the Wauwatosa Police Department on March 1, the department’s Facebook account shows. Before resigning prior to the completion of the internal investigation, he worked at the Greenfield Police Department from 2017 to 2021. He also worked briefly for the Milwaukee Police Department in 2022.

The Wauwatosa Police Department “conduct(s) extensive background checks through a robust process” including “physical and psychological assessments,” said Sgt. Abby Pavlik, the department’s spokeswoman, in an email to The Badger Project.

“We are aware of Officer Karweik’s work story and clear expectations for conduct were established upon his hire, as with many new officers,” she continued.

Karweik is meeting job expectations at the department, she added.

“One of the biggest factors I consider in situations like these are how a police officer responds to adversity and demonstrates professional growth,” Wauwatosa Police Department Chief James MacGillis said in an email to The Badger Project.

“We only hire the best and brightest that align with our core values of the department to serve the community,” he added.

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Video and dispatch radio recordings from 2021 found that Karweik drove “too fast through intersections” and failed to communicate critical information over the radio, violating department policies, according to the documents The Badger Project obtained from the Greenfield Police Department.

During the pursuit on Jan. 29, 2021, Karweik drove through stop signs four times while traveling at speeds ranging from 50 to 60 mph within residential areas. He also failed to communicate critical information over the radio, including the suspect’s vehicle turning off its headlights and almost hitting other cars. Karweik said he initiated a traffic stop following an observation of reckless driving. The pursuit lasted five minutes before he was told by superiors to terminate.

Investigations of another pursuit on Feb. 24. 2021 also revealed similar issues, including speeding through intersections and failing to communicate details over the radio. In addition, the documents show his failure to provide an accurate report regarding his pursuit. Although he said on the radio that the suspect tossed a gun out of the car, he did not mention the event in his report, according to the documents provided by the Greenfield Police Department.

Despite being instructed to end his pursuit after two minutes, Karweik continued for an additional two minutes, according to the documents. He initially started pursuing the vehicle due to its reckless driving, traveling at about 80 mph.

Greenfield Police Department policies require officers to “exercise caution and slow down as may be necessary for safe operation when proceeding through controlled intersections,” and to terminate a pursuit when a suspect vehicle is driving into oncoming traffic or is hazardous to uninvolved bystanders and motorists.

The total number of total law enforcement officers across Wisconsin has fallen to record lows, according to the state Department of Justice. That shortage is putting pressure on police departments and sheriff’s offices struggling to find qualified candidates to fill positions, experts say.

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.

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