CRANDON, Wis. - An off-duty sheriff's deputy who gunned down six young people at a late-night party before killing himself boasted, "I am the cops," before the rampage, according to claims seeking millions of dollars in damages filed Monday.

Forest County Clerk Ann Mihalko said 12 notices of claim were filed with her office — the first step in a possible civil wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligence by Tyler Peterson's employers contributed to the tragedy last October.

Four victims' estates or parents are seeking money from the county for their deaths, and the lone survivor is seeking compensation for his injuries.

Crandon City Attorney Lindsay Erickson said similar claims were filed with the city.

The local governments can either allow or disallow the claims, she said. If they are denied, the next step under Wisconsin law would be a civil lawsuit.

The claims, which named Crandon Police Chief John Dennee and Forest County Sheriff Keith Van Cleve as defendants, seek a total of more than $5 million in damages, with several seeking $500,000 plus $5,000 for funeral and burial costs.

The parents seek the money for the loss of their child and unspecified "emotional and financial harm," the claims said.

A message left for Van Cleve was not immediately returned. A call placed to the Crandon police late Monday afternoon was answered by a sheriff's department dispatcher who said Dennee had gone home for the day. No home listing was available for Dennee.

Forest County corporation counsel Paul Payant did not immediately return a telephone message Monday.

Peterson, 20, was also a part-time Crandon police officer.

The rampage occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 7 after Peterson showed up at a house party in Crandon to make up with ex-girlfriend Jordanne Murray.

According to the claims, Peterson was asked to leave and warned if he didn't, the police would be called.

"I am the cops," Peterson responded, according to the claims.

Peterson got an assault rifle from his truck, went back inside and started shooting, firing about 30 shots before he fled in his truck, the claims said.

He died hours later after holing up at a friend's property. Authorities have said Peterson suffered what appeared to be self-inflicted head wounds, along with a wound in the arm from a long-range bullet.

The claims said the defendants were negligent in their hiring and supervision of Peterson and "further were negligent in other respects as yet to be determined."

The city and county have up to six months to respond to the claims, said Peg Lautenschlager, the attorney for the families and estates. Some of the amounts sought are capped by state law, she said.

The ex-girlfriend's father, Paul Murray, filed a notice of circumstances of claim last week, alleging the same negligence by the Forest County Sheriff's Department and Crandon Police Department.