Green Bay police officer who hit suspect with vehicle will resign at the end of the year

A Green Bay police officer, who hit a fleeing suspect with his squad car in November 2021, will resign at the end of the year after a department investigation found he violated the use of force policy.

The Green Bay Police Department made the announcement Thursday.

In his report on the 2021 incident, Officer Matthew Knutson said the suspect — who was fleeing a traffic stop — ran “directly in front of” his vehicle, and that he hit him unintentionally, according to court documents.

But a criminal complaint against Knutson said footage from his squad car did not show the suspect cutting directly in front of the vehicle.

He was placed on paid administrative leave in October 2022, after the Brown County District Attorney’s office informed the police department about concerns of possible misconduct by Knutson.

In April, Knutson was charged with felony misconduct in office, and misdemeanor negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Last month, he agreed to a plea deal and the misconduct charge was downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor. The vehicle charge was dismissed.

According to WBAY-TV, a Brown County judge ordered Knutson to pay a $500 fine and an additional $1,083 in fees.

In a meeting with Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis this week, Knutson agreed to resign effective Dec. 31.

The department said Knutson violated its use of force and conduct policies in the Nov. 23, 2021, traffic stop of a driver suspected of attempting to flee.

Knutson previously served a 30-day suspension in 2018 after an internal investigation found he sent inappropriate messages from computers used by officers and “was slow to cooperate with an investigation into separate harassment complaints involving other officers,” according to the Associated Press.