(The Center Square) – The plan to shield Wisconsin police officers from a second chance at a prosecution for an officer-involved shooting is facing a lot of pushback at the Capitol in Madison.

Dozens of activists turned out Wednesday to oppose AB 34, which says if “the district attorney determined there was no basis to prosecute the officer, a court may not issue a complaint against the involved officer unless there is new or unused evidence presented.”

Julie Mankowski said there’s no reason why police officers should have extra protections in officer-involved shootings.

“When we talk about people in positions of power, we must hold them to the highest possible standards. That means police officers. That means elected officials. That means your boss at work. It means everyone,” Mankowski told lawmakers. “I do also think that it is necessary that we all open our hearts and our minds to the pain of those who’ve been harmed by the actions of those in positions of power, including police officers.”

The legislation is inspired by the trial of former Wauwatosa Police officer Joseph Mensah for a deadly shooting back in 2016.

Milwaukee County prosecutors originally declined to file charges in the case, but in 2021 Milwaukee County Judge Glenn Yamahiro appointed special prosecutors to the case, and charges were filed.

A jury cleared Mensah in the case one year later.

Police officials told lawmakers the legislation is necessary to protect officers from after-the-fact prosecutions for in-the-moment decisions.

Advocates, like Katherine Johnson, pushed back.

“They have framed the worst day of a family’s life, parents’ life, siblings’ life, friend’s life, everyone that someone who is murdered by police has touched. The worst day of their lives, as a hard day on the job for a cop, who had to make a hard decision” Johnson said.