GREEN BAY, Wis. – A Wisconsin police officer is set to resign at the end of this year after pleading no contest to charges of striking a man with his squad car in 2021. The announcement came from the Green Bay Police Department on Thursday, following the completion of their internal investigation into Officer Matthew Knutson. During a meeting with Chief Chris Davis, Knutson informed him of his decision to quit on December 31, as reported by WLUK-TV.
Officer Knutson had been facing charges of felony misconduct and misdemeanor negligent operation of a vehicle, which were filed against him in April of this year. He had been placed on paid administrative leave in October 2022. In a plea agreement reached on October 30, Knutson pleaded no contest to the misconduct charge, and the negligent operation of a vehicle count was dropped by prosecutors. Brown County Circuit Judge Donald Zuidmulder imposed a $500 fine on Knutson, according to WLUK-TV.
The incident in question, captured on video, shows Knutson striking the man with his squad car as the man attempted to flee from a traffic stop. Knutson argued that he was traveling at a speed of less than 5 mph (8 kph) and that the man ran directly in front of his vehicle. However, prosecutors disputed this claim, stating that the video evidence does not support the assertion that the man ran directly in front of the car.
The police department revealed that they were not aware of the man being struck until October 2022, and Knutson failed to include the collision in his initial report. The decision for Knutson to resign comes in light of these findings.
This incident highlights the importance of accountability within law enforcement and the need for thorough investigations into allegations of misconduct. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and justice in policing.
