Arrest means more training for Green Bay police

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A Green Bay officer who was recorded throwing a man to the ground during an arrest has been cleared of wrongdoing, but police are using the experience as a teaching tool for its officers and new recruits.

A Press-Gazette Media says police acknowledge that better communication skills could have kept the April 19 incident from escalating.

Officer Derek Wicklund was recorded shoving a 29-year-old against a parked car, throwing him to the ground and punching him.

A police investigation concluded that Wicklund didn’t use excessive force, but it also found that Wicklund and other officers could have handled the incident better.

Police Capt. Bill Galvin says after Wicklund and another officer were recommended for additional communications training, the department decided to make the training available to all patrol officers.