Advisory
Press Release
PHONE NO. (262) 886-2300 FAX. NO. (262) 635-0190
Date: July 24, 2023
No: 23-15
Subject: Officer Involved Death Critical Incident
On May 21, 2023, Mt. Pleasant Police were dispatched to a home regarding a report of shots fired and a family trouble. Timothy Burgess had been involved in a domestic incident with his wife. During the incident Mr. Burgess pointed and discharged a firearm multiple times toward his wife not striking her. A child at the home called the police.
Upon police arrival, Mr. Burgess had left the residence in a green Range Rover. Dispatch broadcast the vehicle description and warned the officers that Mr. Burgess was believed to be armed. Dispatch also received several Flock alerts of the vehicle in the City of Racine. Shortly before midnight, a Racine police officer observed the vehicle and attempted to stop it. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Mr. Burgess exited and fled on foot towards Clayton Park. The officer gave chase. Citizens informed the pursuing officer, that Mr. Burgess was armed with a gun and ran in the direction of Clayton Park. A drone was immediately utilized to try and locate Mr. Burgess. Numerous officers also responded to the Park in an attempt to locate him. Additionally, a K9 officer was sent to assist in the search.
Mr. Burgess was located in the tall grassy tree lined area of the park and was given commands to comply and to come out, but refused to do so. Continuous commands with specificity were given to Mr. Burgess, again refusing to comply with the officers’ demands.
A plan was implemented to go and arrest him. As an arrest team was approaching Mr. Burgess, Mr. Burgess discharged his firearm at the officers. Eight officers (7 Racine police officers, 1 Mt. Pleasant police officer) then discharged their firearm striking Mr. Burgess. As a result, Mr. Burgess had succumbed to his injuries. No law enforcement officers were injured in the shooting.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) of Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was called in to conduct an independent investigation of the incident. Once their investigation was completed it was given to the Racine County District Attorney for her review. District Attorney Patricia Hansen reviewed the incident and determined there will be no criminal charges issued for involved law enforcement.
Per protocol, the Racine Police Department will now be conducting an internal review to determine if policies and procedures were followed for this incident.
A copy of DCI’s investigative case file, along with digital photo, video and audio records have been made available online on the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s website at www.doj.state.wi.us/dci/officer-involved-critical-incident.
All media inquiries regarding this incident should be directed to my attention at (262) 635-7868.
Sgt. Kristi Wilcox
Public Information Officer
Press Release 
Racine Police Department
730 Center Street · Racine Wisconsin, 53403
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Date: July 24, 2023
No: 23-15
Subject: Officer Involved Death Critical Incident
On May 21, 2023, Mt. Pleasant Police were dispatched to a home regarding a report of shots fired and a family trouble. Timothy Burgess had been involved in a domestic incident with his wife. During the incident Mr. Burgess pointed and discharged a firearm multiple times toward his wife not striking her. A child at the home called the police.
Upon police arrival, Mr. Burgess had left the residence in a green Range Rover. Dispatch broadcast the vehicle description and warned the officers that Mr. Burgess was believed to be armed. Dispatch also received several Flock alerts of the vehicle in the City of Racine. Shortly before midnight, a Racine police officer observed the vehicle and attempted to stop it. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Mr. Burgess exited and fled on foot towards Clayton Park. The officer gave chase. Citizens informed the pursuing officer, that Mr. Burgess was armed with a gun and ran in the direction of Clayton Park. A drone was immediately utilized to try and locate Mr. Burgess. Numerous officers also responded to the Park in an attempt to locate him. Additionally, a K9 officer was sent to assist in the search.
Mr. Burgess was located in the tall grassy tree lined area of the park and was given commands to comply and to come out, but refused to do so. Continuous commands with specificity were given to Mr. Burgess, again refusing to comply with the officers’ demands.
A plan was implemented to go and arrest him. As an arrest team was approaching Mr. Burgess, Mr. Burgess discharged his firearm at the officers. Eight officers (7 Racine police officers, 1 Mt. Pleasant police officer) then discharged their firearm striking Mr. Burgess. As a result, Mr. Burgess had succumbed to his injuries. No law enforcement officers were injured in the shooting.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) of Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was called in to conduct an independent investigation of the incident. Once their investigation was completed it was given to the Racine County District Attorney for her review. District Attorney Patricia Hansen reviewed the incident and determined there will be no criminal charges issued for involved law enforcement.
Per protocol, the Racine Police Department will now be conducting an internal review to determine if policies and procedures were followed for this incident.
A copy of DCI’s investigative case file, along with digital photo, video and audio records have been made available online on the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s website at www.doj.state.wi.us/dci/officer-involved-critical-incident.
All media inquiries regarding this incident should be directed to my attention at (262) 635-7868.
Sgt. Kristi Wilcox
Public Information Officer
Address/Location
Racine, WI Police Department
730 Center St
Racine, WI 53403
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 262-635-7700