Brown Deer, Wi., Police Chief Steven Rinzel has asked the state Department of Justice for training on how to handle domestic violence situations as his department deals with sharp criticism for how it responded to calls involving spa shooter Radcliffe Haughton and his wife, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Rinzel made the request for all law enforcement in the Milwaukee area.
In 2011, officers saw Haughton point what appeared to be a rifle at his wife. Officers set up a tactical perimeter, told him he was under arrest and ordered him to surrender. He refused. A supervisor ordered officers to leave 90 minutes into the standoff. Experts told the Journal Sentinel that leaving without making an arrest was a breach of basic police protocol and created a risk to the public. After a 911 call this month, officers found Zina Haughton barefoot with a bruised face and her shirt torn. Officers saw Radcliffe Haughton in the house, but he didn’t answer the door. Chief Rinzel has refused Journal Sentinel interview requests since Haughton killed three women at the spa, including his wife, and wounded four before committing suicide.