MPD Unit Highlight: North District Community Policing Team
The North District Community Policing Team (NCPT) is comprised of four officers and one sergeant. The goal of the North CPT is to assist the North District in a variety of tasks and initiatives, focused on community based needs. The majority of the team has worked together for many years and have built a high level of collegiality not only in the unit, but with other MPD units/functions. The function of the unit changes daily depending on district and community needs, and tasks could be anything from assisting on patrol calls to long-term projects focused on problem solving efforts within the community.
While daily tasks might change, the overall goal of the team is to address challenges within the North District and connect with community members. These issues are often identified by residents and other stakeholders within the community such as businesses, landlords and neighborhood associations. Each member on the team is assigned a specified geographic area in the district, allowing neighborhoods to have a point of contact within MPD. These liaison assignments allow officers to have face-to-face contact at many community engagements. Having some of the larger neighborhood associations have a direct contact with MPD allows the team and the district as a whole to address problems sooner.
The North CPT responds to complaints of drug trafficking, fugitive apprehension and traffic enforcement; all while working closely with district detectives and centralized investigative units identifying and apprehending suspects involved in violent crime, sexual assaults and burglaries. The team also works cooperatively with Dane County Narcotics responding to reports of drug sales in neighborhoods and businesses along the E. Washington Ave corridor.
The CPT officers are often working proactive community outreach. Each year the team pairs up with a neighborhood police officer (NPO) to host a family from the community for Christmas; complete with presents, a meal and Santa. Also working with a neighborhood resource officer (NRO), the team hands out lunches for MUNCH (Madison Unites to Nourish Children at Home which is a mobile lunch truck that delivers lunch in several North side neighborhoods when school is not in session), participates in Shop with a Cop, shares a story at Coffee with a Cop and chats it up with the community at National Night Out.
Several members of the team have additional training and are members of our Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), Special Events Team (SET) and Field Training and Evaluation Cadre (FT&E). If you find yourself out and about on the City's North side, you might see the team working as a unit, with patrol officers or other outside agencies. You can find out more information about the team, its members and their neighborhood assignments on the City of Madison website: https://www.cityofmadison.com/police/north/communitypolicing.cfm
The information provided below about some of the calls officers responded to 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 02/19/2020 through 6:00 a.m. on 02/20/2020, MPD received 399 calls for service. This number does not include parking complaints or 911 misdials. A breakdown of the calls for service per district is as follows: Central (62), East (86), Midtown (58), North (65), South (32), West (59), and Other (37). "Other" is used for calls that either do not have a sector or the sector is not in the City. This would be used in the case of one of our officers assisting another law enforcement agency.
2/19
**Priority calls only from 4:56 p.m. to 8:03 p.m. due to calls for service.
WEST: Domestic Disturbance – 3:22 a.m. Officers met with a victim (female) who reported being physically assaulted by a known suspect (31-year-old male). Probable cause was developed to charge the suspect. The suspect was arrested/conveyed to jail on domestic-related charges. The victim, who was also under arrest by Middleton PD for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, made suicidal remarks. Journey Mental Health consulted. Child Protective Services plugged in to make placement arrangements for two children.
MIDTOWN: Mental Health Conveyance – 5:52 a.m. Officers responded to a local hospital regarding a suicidal subject. Journey Mental Health plugged in. The subject was voluntarily admitted. The subject's son was placed in the care of a family member. The subject was cited for disorderly conduct while armed. The subject was left in the care of medical staff.
WEST: Child Abuse – 10:19 a.m. Officers responded to a report of child abuse. Interviews were conducted. Child Protective Services plugged in. The suspect (30-year-old female) is known to the child. Probable cause developed. The suspect was arrested/conveyed to jail on felony child abuse charges.
CENTRAL: Check Person – 4:06 p.m. Officers responded to a residence to check the welfare of a suicidal subject (56-year-old female). Entry was made to the residence to check the welfare of the subject. The subject was contacted. Journey Mental Health consulted. Decision was made for officers to disengage from the residence. No further action deemed necessary by officers at this time.
MIDTOWN: Domestic Disturbance – 4:27 p.m. Officers responded to a residence for a domestic disturbance between two subjects (female victim and 38-year-old male). Probable cause was developed and the suspect was arrested for domestic disorderly conduct.
SOUTH: Crash/Adult Arrested Person – 4:32 p.m. Officers responded to a crash at E. Johnson/N. 2nd St. A driver/suspect (52-year-old male) was found to be under the influence of heroin. The suspect was cited/charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (1st offense) and traffic citations.
EAST: Mental Health Conveyance – 4:52 p.m. Officers responded to a request for a Chapter 51 return. The subject was contacted and taken into protective custody. The subject was conveyed to a local hospital for a medical clearance and ultimately to Winnebago.
NORTH: Check Area – 5:04 p.m. Officers responded to Hartmeyer Ice Area parking lot on Commercial Avenue for a report of a suspicious package. MPD K9 and Dane County EOD responded to assist. A perimeter was established. Areas checked and package located. The package was ultimately determined to not be concerning. Incident Report on MPD's website completed.
EAST: Domestic Disturbance – 5:19 p.m. Officers responded to a residence for a report of a subject threatening another subject with a gun. Officers made contact with both subjects. Conflicting statements provided by both subjects. Probable cause was not developed for any charges. A gun was confirmed to be in the home which the homeowner voluntarily turned over to MPD for temporary safekeeping. Safety plan developed and the parties were separated.
2/20
MIDTOWN: Death Investigation – 12:12 a.m. Officers responded to a pulseless non-breathing subject (87-year-old female). The subject had a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. Medical Examiner's office notified. Nothing suspicious observed and the subject was pronounced deceased.
WEST: Domestic Disturbance – 4:07 a.m. Officers responded to a residence for a disturbance between two subjects (female victim and 57-year-old male). Probable cause was developed to charge the suspect. The suspect was arrested and conveyed to jail on domestic-related charges.
WEST: Check Person – 5:43 a.m. Officers responded to a report of a subject down. EMS responded. The subject was conveyed to a local hospital for an evaluation/treatment of a likely medical-related event. Nothing suspicious identified.
NORTH: Residential Burglary – 7:39 a.m. Officers responded to a residence for a residential burglary/stolen vehicle. The vehicle was in the driveway and unlocked. The suspect(s) used the garage door opener in the vehicle to gain entrance to the home where the vehicle keys were stolen and then the vehicle was stolen. Attempt to locate aired. The vehicle was listed as stolen in the appropriate databases.