This week our department moved one-step closer to realizing the 2022 police budget. On Monday (10/25/2021), the finance committee approved Amendment 12: Acceptance of the COPS award for De-escalation Training, and Amendment 13: Acceptance of the COPS award for a Violence Intervention program to be implemented in the South Police District. Additionally, the finance committee did not approve Amendments 17, 18, and 19, which would have resulted in a decrease of funds needed to hire much needed police personnel in 2022 for the attachment of the Town of Madison and to address our attrition. I am grateful to the committee for fulfilling the city's commitment to providing equitable service to the Town of Madison. It is imperative that no efforts to impede the process of hiring these eight essential police officers for the Town of Madison are achieved. Onboarding eight new officer positions for the Town of Madison will help to ensure that no other current police functions are disrupted.
Nevertheless, the reality of a record year of retirements and resignations have created staffing challenges and the need to repurpose some current police officer positions in order to maintain our mission of "providing a high quality of police services." To address this staffing challenge, starting at shift change in February 2022 and concluding at shift change in February of 2023, nine (9) police officer positions and three (3) sergeant positions will be temporarily suspended from the Community Policing Teams (CPTs) and reallocated to Patrol Services. This change will result in three remaining Community Policing Teams comprised of five (5) officers and one (1) sergeant. Generally, each team will operate in their designated geographic area (North/East Team, Central Team and West/Midtown/South Team), but consistent with current practice, may be called upon to assist elsewhere as needed. Most importantly, the teams will utilize the Evidence-Based Policing practice of Problem Oriented Policing to address neighborhood crime and quality of life issues. Problem-oriented policing, coined by University of Wisconsin–Madison professor Herman Goldstein, is a policing strategy that involves the identification and analysis of specific crime and disorder problems in order to develop effective response strategies. Our officers are very familiar with this strategy and I look forward to demonstrating to our community how the problem solving methodology is used to address identified community problems.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Madison community for their support. I would like to thank the dedicated men and women of the Madison Police Department for their selfless public service. I would like to thank our elected officials for providing their support for our vision. I believe that if we work together, and focus on the future, we can fulfill our vision of becoming a national model for exceptional policing. It can be done, but only if we work together.
-Chief Shon F. Barnes
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 10/27/2021 through 6:00 a.m. on 10/28/2021, MPD received 338 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 (46),East (81), Midtown (52), North (57), South (36), West (48), and Other (18). "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.
10/27
Priority calls only from 6:20 p.m. to 9:07 p.m. due to calls for service.
Priority calls only from 10:25 p.m. to 1:09 a.m. due to calls for service.
WEST: Death Investigation – 6:42 a.m. Officers responded to a residence for a deceased subject (54-year-old male). Medical Examiner's office responded. Decedent had a history of health/medical concerns. Nothing suspicious identified.
WEST: Juvenile Arrest – 10:36 a.m. An officer heard a crash (single-vehicle) and observed 3 subjects walking away from the crash. The driver/suspect remained on scene but fled on foot when officers approached. All 4 subjects apprehended. Investigation continuing.
CENTRAL: Found Property – 10:51 a.m. A loaded handgun was found in shrubs by maintenance employees.
EAST: Armed Robbery – 1:04 p.m. A victim reported having money stolen from him by an acquaintance/suspect and a second suspect who displayed a gun. Investigation continuing.
NORTH: Death Investigation – 1:29 p.m. Officers responded to check the welfare of a subject. The subject (92-year-old male) was located deceased at his residence. Medical Examiner's office responded. Nothing suspicious identified.
CENTRAL: Adult Arrested Person – 4:35 p.m. Officers responded to a report of a subject/suspect (41-year-old male) walking in traffic. Contact made with the suspect who resisted officers. The suspect was arrested/charged with resisting and battery to law enforcement. The suspect was also cited for sudden pedestrian movement.
EAST: Check Property – 5:08 p.m. Officers responded to Camden Rd area for multiple reports of shots fired. A casing was located/recovered. No reports of injuries or property damage at this time.
CENTRAL: Attempted Homicide – 6:10 p.m. Officers responded to the 1100 block of Williamson St for a report of a shooting. A victim was located with a gunshot wound. Officers provided medical aid to the victim. The victim was conveyed to a local hospital. Incident Report on MPD's website completed.
EAST: Drug Incident – 6:25 p.m. Officers responded to a report of a subject/suspect (38-year-old male) down in a parking lot. Suspect revived with Naloxone and conveyed to a local hospital. Suspect given an order-in charge of possession of heroin.
EAST: Weapons Violation – 10:01 p.m. Officers responded to a report of a shooting on the on-ramp from Hwy 151 to eastbound I-90. Two victims sustained non-life threatening injuries (gunshot wounds). Incident Report on MPD's website completed.
EAST: Check Property – 11:15 p.m. Officers responded to reports of shots fired in the Congress Ave area. Several casings located. No reported injuries or property damage at this time.
10/28
NORTH: Domestic Disturbance – 1:44 a.m. Officers responded to a disturbance involving a 28-year-old male suspect. The suspect was arrested/charged with domestic disorderly conduct.
SOUTH: Domestic Disturbance – 2:25 a.m. Officers responded to a disturbance involving a 36-year-old male suspect. The suspect was arrested/charged with domestic disorderly conduct, domestic battery and domestic false imprisonment.