Madison Police Department Policy & Procedure Ad Hoc Committee Final Report

Abstract

After nearly four years of study, evaluation, and deliberation, the Madison, Wisconsin, Ad Hoc Committee charged with undertaking a comprehensive review of the Madison Police Department (MPD) has completed its work and issued its final report. The report contains 177 specific recommendations to chart a path for the future that will help bring together Madison's diverse communities and its police department, build mechanisms for collaboration and trust through enhanced civilian input and oversight of the policing function, and ensure that the Madison Police Department continues its long-standing ideals of community policing and problem-oriented policing. The centerpiece of the report and its recommendations is that Madison should create structures for civilian oversight of police through a new Office of an Independent Monitor that responds to a Civilian Review Board, composed of civilians who reflect all of Madison's diverse communities and the lived experiences of those members of the community who frequently come into contact with the police. That recommendation was submitted to the Common Council separately on August 6, 2019, and was accepted by the Council. The Mayor's budget includes $200,000 to implement that recommendation. Other recommendations include proposals aimed at improving the MPD's relations with the Madison Community, including addressing race and equity concerns; enhancing the MPD's commitment to and practice of community policing and problem-oriented policing; enhancing the MPD's ability to respond effectively and sensitively to individuals in mental health crises; minimizing the need to resort to and the frequency of incidents of police use of force, including deadly force; improving accountability and transparency; creating processes for learning from bad outcomes, including police or civilian fatalities; and others.

Keywords: policing, community policing, problem-oriented policing, police use of force, civilian oversight

JEL Classification: K42