For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Wood County Sheriff’s Department has released more information on the officer-involved shooting that occurred June 11 in Arpin.

Sheriff Shawn Becker says that both deputies involved are recovering from the incident and that the deputy who was shot is “expected to make a full recovery and was released from the hospital.”

Deputies were called to a residence in the village of Arpin for a report of a 32-year-old suicidal male. After approximately 20 minutes, while the deputies were speaking with a crisis interventionist from Wood County Crisis Intervention, the suicidal individual went inside the residence and armed himself with a knife. A struggle ensued and one of the deputies discharged his firearm. Bullets struck the subject, another civilian and the other deputy. Deputies attempted life-saving measures until EMS arrived, but the suicidal male died from his injuries.

“The deputies involved are six and 16-year veterans of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department,” Becker said. “Both deputies have completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training.”

CIT Training is a 40-hour training course supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. During this training officers are provided with information on mental illnesses, de-escalation, community resources, and other topics related to mental health.

“We partner with Wood County Human Services Department Crisis Intervention team to provide assessments for individuals who are struggling with suicidal or homicidal ideation and for those whose mental health is of concern. This frequently is the result of calls for service known as welfare checks,” added Becker.

The deputies involved in the incident are on paid administrative leave during the course of the investigation, which Becker said is standard protocol.

“We understand there are still many unanswered questions at this time. The Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation is actively investigating the incident,” Becker said, adding that more information may become available once complete.