Man Who Died In Officer Involved Shooting Identified: Report

WAUKESHA, WI -- The 55-year-old Waukesha man who died in an officer-involved shooting has been identified as Ted Schmitz, his family says.

According to a WISN 12 report, an officer fired four gunshots after Schmitz charged the officer with a knife in the early-morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 10 in the area of School Dr. and Prairie Ave.

"Based on the preliminary information gathered at this point, I believe that the officer risked his life to fulfill the mission statement of the Waukesha Police Department; 'A Pledge to Serve with Integrity, Honor, and Courage,' Waukesha Police Chief Russell Jack said in a statement early Sunday.

An online obituary notice states that a memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 at First Baptist Church, 247 Wisconsin Ave. in Waukesha at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Chakravarthy Zadda honoring Ted's life.

According to information released by the Waukesha Police Department, at just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, officers were investigating a case in the area of School Drive and Prairie Ave., and were looking for a suspect involved in a forgery case.

Police said the suspect, now identified by family as Schmitz, had been talking with an officer on the phone. Police said the officer was trying to get him to turn himself in to police. Police said he refused to respond to the Police Department. While officers went to the area near School Drive, in an attempt to find him, a person with knowledge of the man's whereabouts said that he was threatening to slit his wrists.

Police said an investigating officer found him walking on School Drive near South Prairie Ave. a short time later. Waukesha Police said he immediately pulled a knife and threatened the officer.
The officer attempted to defuse the situation by backing away while using verbal commands, but that he ignored all of the officer's commands and kept coming at the officer.

Police said he charged at the officer and the officer with the knife. Fearing he was going to stab him, Jack said the officer was forced to shoot him in order to stop the threat. He was struck four times in the area of the chest.

Two back-up officers arrived, and the three officers then stabilized him and rendered first aid, which included CPR and an automated external defibrillator, police said.

Police said he was transported by the Waukesha Fire Department to Waukesha Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The involved officer has over five years of experience and, per policy, has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Patch File Photo by Scott Anderson