December 18, 2018 11:19 AM

Process matters.

Last night, I went to a listening session on the west side of Madison to listen to constituent concerns and observations relative to a City-supported housing initiative on Tree Lane. As a result, I was not monitoring the Madison Metropolitan School Board meeting which, among other things, took up the issue of whether to endorse a proposed contract with MPD for continuing officers at the four area high schools. I was informed that the contract was passed (4/2) and thought nothing more about it as the terms of the contract had been agreed to by MMSD and MPD prior to the Board's vote.

So imagine my surprise when, this morning, I read in the paper that MMSD had agreed to continue the SRO (School Resource Officer) program, but only with amended language to the contract that City, MPD and MMSD teams had already agreed to. We had never agreed (nor will I ever agree) to language regarding the ability to remove an officer for "cause." The School District floated this language out last week and it was made unequivocally clear that I would not agree to this language.

Wisconsin Statute 62.13 (3m) outlines the seven (7) standards for "just causes" that must occur before a police officer is suspended, reduced in rank or terminated---the City cannot discipline an officer without complying with these statutory requirements. State law provides that review and oversight of this process rests with the Police and Fire Commission (PFC). Further, the contract between the City and the Madison Professional Police Officers Association (MPPOA) outlines the parameters of the SRO position and this cannot be negotiated away with a separate MMSD contract.

So needless to say, we DO NOT have a contract with MMSD for the SRO's. I can only assume that MMSD will present proposed language changes to me shortly, but again, I will reiterate that the processes for disciplining or assigning officers are governed by state law and labor contract, and these rights cannot be bargained away in an agreement with a third party. We have always worked cooperatively with MMSD to select our resource officers and to address any areas of improvement. However, the law does not permit us to pre-determine discipline through the contract language that was suggested.

Also, as a side note, this contract even as presently constituted, is not "final" until it has gone through the Common Council and has been authorized for signatures.

Frankly, it is time for the School Board to end this 18 month saga and just ratify the terms of the contract that were agreed upon. I believe that I am speaking for more than just a few folks when I say that the future of MMSD is tied to the perceptions and the realities of school safety---time to act and get this done without further debates, committees, and studies!

The information contained in my blog is derived from notes provided by MPD Officers-In-Charge (OIC) at the end of their shifts. Most narratives represent early and preliminary information that was gathered by an OIC from those in the field who were actively working cases. The OIC is sharing what they were being told, in the moment. In many instances, facts and circumstances, even the type of crime listed, can change as officers, detectives and investigators continue their work.

From 6:00 a.m. on 12/17/2018 through 6:00 a.m. on 12/18/2018, MPD received 455 calls for service. This number does not include parking complaints or 911 misdials. For purposes of clarification, the following abbreviations are short-hand for race designations: W=White, AA=African American, NA=Native American, H=Hispanic, ME=Middle Eastern, A=Asian, MR=Mixed Race, U=Unknown. MPD shifts are staggered as follows: 1st detail=7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2nd detail=12 p.m. to 8 p.m., 3rd detail=3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 4th detail=8 p.m. to 4 a.m., 5th detail=11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

To further break down the 455 calls for service for the past 24-hours this is how the calls came in per district: Central (80), East (84), Midtown (73), North (69), South (44), West (70), and Other (35). Other=these are calls for service that either do not have a sector listed or the sector is not in the City. For example, if one of our officers assists another law enforcement agency, their sector is not listed in our districts so therefore it is listed under "other".

**Priority calls only from 11:10am-12:21pm due to calls for service.

**Priority calls only from 7:35pm-11:15pm due to calls for service.

1) NORTH: Non-Residential Burglary – 4:00 a.m. Officers responded to the Tip Top Tavern on North St for a burglary. The back door was found broken into. A safe was taken during the burglary. Incident Report on MPD's website completed. Investigation continuing. *This was a late call that did not make the previous 24-hour cycle call notes due to officers being involved at the scene and reports from the field were not yet typed.

2) CENTRAL: Crash with Injuries – 7:56 a.m. Officers responded to John Nolen Dr/South Shore Drive for a pedestrian/motor vehicle crash. The pedestrian/victim (42-year-old WM) was riding his bicycle in the crosswalk on John Nolen Drive with the right-of-way. A driver/suspect (29-year-old WM) collided with the victim (after ignoring a red signal). The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries. The suspect was cited for red signal violation.

3) MIDTOWN: Road Rage/Weapons Offense – 9:04 a.m. Officers responded to a road rage incident on the Beltline at S. Midvale Rd. It was reported that a subject/suspect (34-year-old HM) pointed a handgun at another vehicle/victim (37-year-old AAM). A traffic stop was conducted on the suspect's vehicle where a pellet gun was located. The suspect was arrested for disorderly conduct while armed. Incident Report on MPD's website completed.

4) SOUTH: Check Area – 4:23 p.m. Officers responded to the 2300 block of Fish Hatchery Rd after a caller reporting observing a person running out of a building with a gun. The caller than advised dispatch however that no gun was actually observed. Areas checked. The caller/complainant could not be contacted. Nothing suspicious observed in the area. No further action deemed necessary by the police.

5) EAST: Missing/Runaway Juvenile – 4:52 p.m. Officers responded to an east side residence for a missing/runaway juvenile (14-year-old WM). The juvenile has a history of running away and mental health concerns. The juvenile was located and conveyed to a local hospital for an evaluation. The juvenile was subsequently conveyed to Winnebago on an emergency detention order.

6) NORTH: Check Person/Fraud – 6:36 p.m. Officers met with a victim (18-year-old HM) who reported that after he met a suspect (UM) on social media, the suspect sent him a check and asked him to cash it for him (giving the victim a cut of the proceeds). The victim became suspicious and decided to not cash the check but became concerned for his welfare. The suspect was contacted. The suspect's vehicle was seized due to it having bullet holes. Investigation continuing.

7) CENTRAL: Weapons Offense/Disturbance – 7:26 p.m. Officers responded to the 100 block of State St for a report of a suspect (39-year-old AAM) pointing a gun at a victim (21-year-old WM). Officers checked the area and made contact with the victim who had been openly carrying multiple firearms. Investigation revealed that a verbal exchange had taken place between the suspect and the victim. The suspect forcibly removed a holstered handgun from the victim, pointed it at the victim and fled. The suspect was located and arrested for 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of a firearm by a felon, theft, possession of cocaine, misdemeanor bail jumping and felony bail jumping. Incident Report on MPD's website completed. Investigation continuing.

8) MIDTOWN: Child Abuse – 9:16 p.m. Officers responded to Helene Parkway for a report of child abuse. A juvenile/victim (13-year-old UM) reported that his mother's boyfriend/suspect (AAM) struck him in the stomach. It was also reported that a second juvenile/victim (10-year-old UM) was thrown to the ground by the suspect. The suspect and the mother of the children were not on scene when officers arrived. Child Protective Services notified. The children went to stay with a family member. Once located, the suspect will be arrested for two counts of physical abuse to a child. Investigation continuing.

9) WEST: Domestic Disturbance – 9:59 p.m. Officers responded to a west side residence for a domestic disturbance between two subjects (51-year-old WF victim and 34-year-old UM suspect). The victim reported that the suspect grabbed her by the throat and choked her. The victim also reported that the suspect brandished a knife. The suspect was arrested for domestic-related charges including 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety, strangulation and disorderly conduct.

10) CENTRAL: Check Person – 12:18 a.m. Officers were flagged down by a subject (23-year-old WF) on State Street. The subject had lost contact with a friend who had her 9-month-old child, was not familiar with the area, whose phone was dead and she was a bit intoxicated. Officers located the friend and baby (both were fine). The friend agreed to take care of the baby until the morning. Child Protective Services notified. Officers assisted by taking the subject to a store to obtain necessary materials for the baby (diapers, a bottle, etc.). No further action deemed necessary by the police.

11) MIDTOWN: Disturbance – 12:44 a.m. Officers responded to a local hospital and met with a victim (25-year-old WF) who reported a convoluted disturbance had taken place with her ex-boyfriend/suspect (23-year-old AAM) earlier in the evening. The victim did not have any visible injuries but may have had a medical event. Attempts were made to contact the suspect but he was not located. Investigation continuing.

12) EAST: Disturbance – 1:34 a.m. Officers met with a victim (58-year-old AAM) who reported being picked up by a driver/suspect (unknown to him) on Broadway near 51 and taken to a Park-n-Ride. The victim reported that the suspect got "aggressive" with him. The victim did not have any visible injuries. A suspect has not been identified/located. Investigation continuing.

13) MIDTOWN: Mental Health Conveyance – 1:47 a.m. Officers made contact with a subject (34-year-old WM) at a local hospital due to concerns for his mental health/welfare. Journey Mental Health consulted. An emergency detention is being sought. Investigation continuing.