Matthew Kenny
Service Record
Madison Wisconsin Police Department
| Rank | Officer |
| Dates of Service | Hired approximately 2002.[1] |
| Salary | $127,135 (2022)[2] |
| Last Known Status | Active |
Commendations
2007 Medal of Valor
In 2007, Kenny received the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Ronald Brandon incident, below.[3] [4]
Incident Reports
2007 Weapons Violation
In May 2007, Kenny was off-duty when he left his gun in a business's bathroom.[5]
Response Timeline
On July 18, 2007, Kenny received a letter of reprimand.[5]
2007 Death of Ronald Brandon
On July 15, 2007, Brandon called police to report a man with a gun who was threatening the neighbors. Brandon's ex-wife called police shortly before officers arrived and told them that the gun was fake, but the information was not relayed to the officers. Kenny arrived to find Brandon on his porch, pointing a handgun at his head. When Brandon ignored commands to drop the gun and pointed it at officers, Kenny shot. Brandon died.[3][4]
The handgun was determined to be a pellet gun.[4]
Response Timeline
The chief of police described the incident as "suicide by cop".[4]
The county District Attorney ruled the shooting to be justified.[4]
The department awarded Kenny its Medal of Valor.[4]
2015 Death of Tony Robinson
On March 6, 2015, Robinson's friends called police because he was jumping into traffic and yelling, and they were concerned for his mental state as he had taken hallucinogenic mushrooms or some other drug.[6][7] Additional reports claimed that Robinson was punching and attempting to choke people, and had attempted to break into a building.[7] Kenny responded and located Robinson. Kenny claimed that Robinson punched him in the head, leading Kenny to shoot him.[8]
Kenny and other officers rendered aid until paramedics arrived. Robinson died.[7]
Part of the incident was captured on Kenny's in-vehicle camera.[8] Kenny was not wearing his department-issued microphone, in violation of policy.[9]
Response Timeline
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) opened a criminal investigation.[9]
On May 12, 2015, the county District Attorney declined to press charges, calling the shooting a "lawful use of deadly police force".[7][10]
On June 3, 2015, the department determined that Kenny had not violated the department's use of force policy.[11]
In 2015, Robinson's family filed a civil lawsuit against Kenny and the city, claiming violations of his Fourth Amendment rights.[8][9]
On February 17, 2017, the city's insurance company paid a $3.35 million settlement to Robinson's family days before the trial was to begin.[8]
In March 2022, the family filed a petition under a state law that would have allowed a judge to charge Kenny even though the DA had chosen not to file charges.[6][10]
On June 30, 2023, a judge ruled that he believed that there was probable cause to charge Kenny, but that he lacked the authority to authorize someone to prosecute it.[10]
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ Annual Report, Madison Police Department, 2017
- ↑ Matthew Kenny, Police Officer, City of Madison, govSalaries
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bill Lueders, Another tragic police shooting, Isthmus, 2007-07-26
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Ashley Southall, Unarmed Man Is Shot Dead by Police After Scuffle in Wisconsin, New York Times, 2015-03-07
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tim Poehlmann-Tynan, Tim Poehlmann-Tynan: Robinson family settlement is city reaping what it sowed, Cap Times, 2017-03-01
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Robert Chappell, Probable cause hearing set in Tony Robinson shooting case, Madison 365, 2022-12-06
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Bryna Godar, Police officer will not face criminal charges in shooting death of Tony Robinson, Cap Times, 2015-05-12
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Abigail Becker, Police union: $3.35 million civil rights suit settlement 'casts a pall' over Matt Kenny, other officers, Cap Times, 2017-02-23
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Estate v Kelly, U.S. District Court, 2017-02-13
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Kyle Jones, Judge dismisses petition to bring charges against officer who killed Tony Robinson, Channel 3000, 2023-07-01
- ↑ Bryna Godar, Officer Matt Kenny cleared in internal investigation of Tony Robinson shooting, Cap Times, 2015-06-03
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