Council Denies Waukesha Man's Claim Against Police Department

A man who was arrested by the Waukesha Police Department last year is seeking $20,000 from the city of Waukesha for medical bills, but the Common Council denied the request last week.

The claim filed by 63-year-old Ronald. E. Doern alleges that Doern was unable to receive immediate medical attention after being taken into custody Oct. 30, 2009, for “a closed head injury with post-concussive syndrome.”

The claim, which was filed with the City of Waukesha, a Waukesha police officer and a police sergeant, Waukesha County Sheriff Dan Trawicki and the Waukesha County Clerk, accuses the police department of taking him to the Waukesha County Jail without seeking medical clearance.

However, the investigation into the claim by the city’s insurance provider notes that a medical check was conducted at 2:19 a.m. July 12 and that Doern was released from custody at 3:43 a.m. July 12. Doern was in Waukesha Police Department custody for about one hour, the insurance provider report states.

The Common Council unanimously denied the claim during Thursday’s meeting.

The claim cites local police reports that accused Doern of acting like he was going to jump in front of a vehicle in the 300 block of North Grand Avenue at 10:39 p.m. July 11, 2009. Doern then ran toward the vehicle screaming at the people in the vehicle. A man got out of the car and punched Doern, the police report states.

Doern chose to not seek charges against the man who hit him, according to the insurance company’s investigation memo.

The police officer asked Doern if he wanted an ambulance, and Doern told the officer he just wanted to go home, the police report states. Doern was eventually arrested for disorderly conduct and sudden pedestrian movement in traffic, the report states.  Doern had an abrasion near his left elbow and swelling under his eye, according to the report.

“Doern insisted that he was not involved in any altercation and again that he just wanted to go home,” the report states. “Doern was very belligerent and argumentative during this entire investigation. It should also be noted that Doern had defecated in his pants and had feces on his hands.”

Doern was fined $179 for the misdemeanor disorderly conduct conviction.

When Doern was being taken to the Waukesha County Jail, he made comments about the police department missing three guns on his body and threatened to shoot officers. Doern was placed in his jail cell without further incident, the report states.

The claim alleges that because Doern, who does not have health insurance, was not immediately treated, he incurred $1,464.30 in medical bills. Doern does not have money to pay for medical services and follow up treatment, the claim states, so he continues to suffer from headaches and memory loss.