MPD investigating swatting calls

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Swatting is a word not many people may know. It's a term that refers to a 911 call sent to someone else's home with the goal of draining police resources and frightening the people inside.

A Milwaukee author said he had a swatting incident just this weekend. Police have responded with ballistic shields, guns drawn, even handcuffing him, all based on anonymous and false 911 calls.

MPD says it's illegal and puts everyone at risk.

MPD Inspector David Feldmeier works in the department's Police & Patrol Bureau. He said, "It does happen enough that we need to be concerned."

MPD has responded to at least 11 swatting calls since 2019, putting an enormous strain on resources and increasing the risk for everyone involved.

MPD has lost officers in the line of duty while responding to similar-but-real emergency calls.

Inspector Feldmeier said, "When we get these calls, you start thinking about that in the back of your mind. 'Is this going to be one of those calls?'"

MPD says anonymous callers have claimed someone has been imprisoned, there's a hostage situation, or an armed person was barricaded inside a home.

Responding officers are ready to use lethal force, if necessary, to make a rescue. And that's a problem when the calls are fake.

Patrick Tomlinson says he's been targeted six times in the past few years. He explained one of them: "We have no idea what's going on, I'm in a bathrobe. I go and answer the door, there are two uniformed Milwaukee police officers with their hands on their guns."

MPD didn't confirm exactly how many swatting calls had been made to Tomlinson's home, but said the six Tomlinson claimed was "in the ballpark".

Tomlinson says the police response can be terrifying. "A couple of times previous where I had been handcuffed naked on my front porch at 1:00 in the morning by six officers with six guns in my face."

Swatting has gotten people killed across the country. Officers have shot homeowners thinking they were legitimate suspects, and residents have shot police thinking they were intruders.

Tomlinson said he fears for his life when police respond.

Inspector Feldmeier said, "We apologize, definitely, for the individuals who might be affected by our response."

Officers still have to respond to 911 calls.

But Milwaukee does not yet have a swatting policy on the books to address repeat false calls to the same locations. Inspector Feldmeier says there are internal conversations about creating such a policy.

And he says MPD tries to use its best judgment and restraint when responding.

Inspector Feldmeier said, "With all those measures in place, it's not perfect, but it's as good as we can get for now. Until we can figure out a better way to do it."

MPD is still investigating who is making the swatting calls.

Swatting is a Class I felony in Wisconsin, punishable by up to 3.5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.