This email correspondence dated April 3–5, 2024 documents communications between City of Superior officials and a concerned resident regarding a police use-of-force incident involving a conducted energy weapon (Taser). The exchange later became part of the federal case Ian Cuypers v. Justin Taylor et al., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
The individuals involved include Ian Schoenike, a resident expressing concern after viewing dashcam and bodycam footage of a traffic stop; Tylor Elm, City of Superior Councilor for Downtown District 6; and Paul Winterscheidt, Chief of Police for the Superior Police Department. Schoenike identifies the individual subjected to the Taser as Ian Richard Cuypers and references publicly available footage hosted on YouTube.
The primary purpose of the correspondence is to address public concern regarding the legality and appropriateness of the officers’ actions during a February 2024 traffic stop. Chief Winterscheidt provides a detailed explanation of police use-of-force principles, high-risk vehicle contacts, and Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Standards Board Defense and Arrest Tactics (DAAT) model. He asserts that the officers acted within policy, citing the driver’s alleged noncompliance and continued resistance as justification for deploying a conducted energy weapon rather than escalating to higher levels of force.
The emails conclude with multiple offers from both Councilor Elm and Chief Winterscheidt to meet in person with the concerned citizen to further discuss the incident. The correspondence emphasizes transparency, public accountability, and the city’s willingness to engage residents on policing practices—issues central to local government oversight and taxpayer-funded law enforcement accountability.
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City of Superior official website – https://www.superiorwi.gov
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Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB / DAAT) – https://www.doj.state.wi.us/lesb
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U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin – https://www.wiwd.uscourts.gov
