August 28, 2013 3:24 PM

I have received communications in the past 24 hours regarding off-duty Madison Police officers participating in a singing event inside the State Capitol. Some have been supportive, some have not. This seems to be an opportune time to provide insight into the Madison Police Department's policy on this issue. It can be found on our website under Policy 4-1000. Certainly I do not condone our officers violating criminal laws or MPD policies, but I do support their right to engage in political and other protected First Amendment related activities when off-duty. The officers, who sang yesterday, do not appear to have violated any departmental policies. They were not functioning as MPD officers, but as individual citizens expressing personal beliefs.