D.A. says officers acted ‘reasonably’ in fatally shooting bank robber

The results of an independent investigation into the fatal law enforcement shooting of a suspected bank robber was released Friday.

The investigation by Barron County District Attorney Jon Theisen found the three law enforcement officers acted “reasonably,” and he recommended no charges against them.

Rudolf P. Frenzer, 50, of Ingram, led law enforcement officers on a high speed chase approaching speeds exceeding 100 mph following the Oct. 30 armed robbery of the Exeland Branch of the Dairyland State Bank. Frenzer allegedly fired at officers during the pursuit before his vehicle was forced off U.S. 8 by officers just west of Bruce.

During an exchange of gunfire, Frenzer was killed by officers returning gunfire, according to Rusk County Sheriff David Kaminski.

Rusk County Deputy Jeff Wallace, Rusk County Deputy Riley Kummet and Wisconsin DNR Conservation Warden Jeremy Peery were placed on paid administrative leave following the incident.

Rusk County District Attorney Kathleen Pakes and Kaminski requested Theisen conduct an independent review and analysis of the incident.

In his report, Theisen concluded, “That Rusk County Deputy Wallace, Rusk County Deputy Kummet and Wisconsin Conservation Warden Peery acted reasonably, and were privileged in their subjective decisions to employ deadly force.”

Theisen also advised pursuant to these conclusions, he was returning the file to the Sheriff’s Department, Pakes, and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations with the recommendation that no criminal charges be filed and that any criminal investigation be closed.

Kaminski advised that the investigation into the shooting conducted by the Barron County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice of Criminal Investigation was very thorough and detailed.

“The conclusion made by D.A. Theisen was what I had expected as my deputies and warden Peery had no choice but to take the actions that they did,” Kaminski said.

Kaminski also advised he has been in contact with the Wisconsin DNR throughout this investigation and with the results of Theisen’s review, both Rusk County deputies will be placed back on full duty with the department. Kaminski was advised by the Wisconsin DNR that Peery will also be placed back on full duty.

“When unfortunate incidents like this occur, I am always grateful to be surrounded by professional law enforcement officers who are willing to take the required steps to protect the public. These, and other officers responding to this call, did everything in their power to apprehend a very dangerous felony suspect who chose to put the officers and the public in harms way,” Kaminski said.

Two other suspects in the armed robbery — Steven Ray Willard Jr., 19, of Phillips and Robert H. McCallie Jr., 20, of Kennan, — have been charged with armed robbery. They are each being held in the Sawyer County Jail on $100,000 cash bond.