FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9th, 2013 Contact: Samuel B Stevenson, 262-617-8469, Stevenson.samuelb@gmail.com Contact: Kyle M VandenLangenberg, 920-562-4522, kyle.m.van@gmail.com COMMUNITY PLANS DEMONSTRATION TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR PAUL HEENAN AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORM OF MADISON POLICE DEPARTMENT In light of the Madison Police Department (MPD) and the Dane County District Attorneys decision to exonerate Officer Stephen Heimsness, and others, for the murder of Paul Heenan, 30, on the morning of November 9th, 2012, friends, family and concerned members of the community will be rallying in front of the City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Drive, at noon on Saturday the 12th of January. The purpose of this demonstration will be to address the assertions, inconsistencies and poor judgment of the authorities involved in this matter. Furthermore, the community intends to demand an independent investigation of the shooting, a citizens oversight mechanism for incidents involving lethal force by the MPD and the end to Stephen Heimsness career in law enforcement The decision this morning to exonerate Officer Heimsness and the MPD, sets a terrifying and dangerous precedent that has already begun to cultivate a culture of impunity and violence in our citys law enforcement establishment. This is a precedent that should frighten and unnerve every resident of Madison. What we were told today is that law enforcement reserves the right to use deadly force against unarmed, intoxicated residents at will. Additionally, the department has established a definition of transparency that protects the right to selectively release information to not only the public but also the Dane County District Attorney in a putative effort to reduce liability. To wit, the District Attorney was not privy to the testimony of eyewitness Kevin OMalley - testimony that conflicts with the accounting of Officer Heimsness, and casts doubt on the level of danger Officer Heimsness was in before making his decision to not press charges. Police Chief Nobel Wray also declined to mention this important information in statements to the press shortly after the shooting occurred. The manner in which the MPD has dealt with this incident has been inherently biased and an insult to justice and transparency. Not only has the department been suspiciously selective in its release of information but has also conducted its investigation and press availability in a process tuned to portray its actions in the best light. In fact, until now, the police department has been privileged to be the major contributor of narrative and detail on the shooting. With the rally this Saturday, the community will begin to give voice to the wealth of perspective and facts that call into serious question the portrayal of events the MPD has so far yielded.