September 14, 2022 11:29 AM

Since becoming the Chief of Police for the Madison Police Department in February of 2021, I have made it a focus of my administration to be data-driven. I believe in evidence-based policing, and have sought to implement progressive, nationally recognized best practices at MPD. This is why I am … [read more]

January 15, 2020 10:08 AM

For a few years now, the daily Chief’s blog has provided an overview of noteworthy incidents that MPD responded to the previous day. For the most part, the incidents highlighted in the blog were handled by MPD patrol officers and patrol sergeants. While the patrol function reflects the … [read more]

January 13, 2020 10:47 AM

A story was released in yesterday's paper about third-party fundraisers for public safety and labor organizations. Our department does not utilize third-party fundraisers as described in the story, and the Wisconsin Professional Police Officer's Association (WPPA) – the parent labor … [read more]

September 9, 2019 9:05 AM

We are proud to have been featured in a recent Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) report which provides a summary of a research project that focused on police agencies and their efforts in building positive relationships with immigrant communities. The new report, Community Policing in … [read more]

December 27, 2018 9:08 AM

Today we have launched our community surveys! We ask and hope that you will take a few minutes to complete the survey. In order for the City of Madison Police Department to improve our service(s) to the community, we need and value your feedback! One of our core values is a commitment to … [read more]

May 22, 2017 9:33 AM

In this week’s blog, I want to give props to Madison Memorial High School (not an easy feat for a proud graduate of Madison West)! Late last fall, a team led by Principal Jay Affeldt and staff members Robin Amado, Cara Fitzgerald, Kristin Voss, and Leslie Mitchell hatched an idea that showed … [read more]

April 17, 2017 9:38 AM

As someone married to a Madison Metropolitan School District teacher, I can tell you that BOTH students and staff have begun the countdown to summer vacation! And given all of the together/"quality" time that some of our families have spent (endured?) during the various spring breaks that cycle … [read more]

January 17, 2017 8:46 AM

The below blog is written by Wisconsin State Representative Melissa Sargent. Remember riding the seesaw as a child? There was that one point as you were riding where you and your friend could find the center of balance and stay at the same level, miraculously hovering across from one … [read more]

September 7, 2016 1:01 PM

Last month, MPD conducted both our Black Youth Academy and our Latino Youth Academy, marking our fifth and sixth years, respectively, for these youth outreach and education programs for area eighth-graders. This year, MPD partnered with Fitchburg, Middleton, and Sun Prairie Police Departments and … [read more]

August 24, 2016 2:16 PM

Each year, the Madison Police Department offers an internship program; the vast majority of students flock to our summer openings. Typically, we have 40-60 students competing for an average of 20 unpaid internship positions. The work placements for the internships vary but students have been … [read more]

August 15, 2016 12:50 PM

After serving our community for 32 years, my classmate Joe Balles, retired from MPD last January. Captain Joe Balles was the venerable face of MPD in a variety of contexts but none more memorable than as the leader of the South Police District. And while Joe may have officially “retired” from … [read more]

August 3, 2016 2:35 PM

Next Thursday night, August 11th, from 5:30pm-8pm, Madison will be celebrating our National Night Out event at Penn Park. This event is for all city residents and we hope to see as many Madisonians as possible attend! There will be a number of activities for children (including a bounce house … [read more]

June 27, 2016 8:54 AM

The Madison Police Department’s longstanding reputation as a pioneer in community policing carries with it a tradition of innovation and a commitment to continuous improvement. We strive to identify trust gaps and challenges to our service mission in order to uphold our stated promise and to put … [read more]

May 31, 2016 8:46 AM

Guardianship is most effective when it is proactive not just reactive. When police respond to crimes or crises in the community, the damage in most cases has already been done and our role becomes one of tending to the victims, apprehending suspects, and doing what we can to help put the pieces … [read more]

April 1, 2016 11:32 AM

During a recently completed series of neighborhood forums, a few people inquired about the challenges of maintaining “quality and control assurance” measures with a work force of over 600 employees, spread out over five separate shifts, covering approximately 90 square miles in five districts? … [read more]

February 23, 2016 3:43 PM

The Madison Police Department has long enjoyed a reputation as a national leader in progressive policing with an emphasis on problem solving and community engagement. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the vibrant relationship building that is taking place in a number of neighborhoods … [read more]

February 19, 2016 9:10 AM

A little over a year ago, I announced the start of a “pilot” program with the creation of two new units of detectives in 2015 – one for violent crimes (VCU) and one for burglary crimes (BCU). I chose to focus on violent crimes and burglaries in light of their increased frequency and because … [read more]

February 11, 2016 7:18 AM

Last week, our nationally recognized specialized police response program serving people with mental illness in our community took another leap forward with the addition of a dedicated in-house Crisis Worker from Journey Mental Health Center. This type of co-located or co-responder model has … [read more]

February 5, 2016 2:13 PM

One of the things that I relish doing as Chief is spending time with our recruits at the Training Center. Having spent seventeen years with the Personnel and Training Team, I can certainly attest to the fact that these aspiring police officers come to us filled with resolve and hope, emphatic in … [read more]

January 21, 2016 9:34 AM

In the wake of public demonstrations and protests over police use of force, President Obama created a Task Force of police practitioners and academics to address increasing tensions between local law enforcement and the communities they serve. In March 2015, The President’s Task Force on 21st … [read more]

January 8, 2016 8:57 AM

With the new year upon us comes the inevitable ritual where we consider “resolutions” to strive for in 2016. Both at work as well as at home, I am bombarded by those who are thrusting THEIR suggestions on ME for 2016, to include nonsense such as cutting down on my consumption of Kickstart(s) … [read more]

November 12, 2015 3:02 PM

I have just concluded another round of citywide community forums. By going to all of the various Districts and bringing the host command staff with me to address concerns unique and specific to that District, we have continued our commitment for face-to-face engagement. The only "ground rules" … [read more]

October 20, 2015 3:29 PM

Issues of racial disparity in Dane County have been well-chronicled. Whether the context be education, economics or the criminal justice system, the sad fact remains that people of color are starkly impacted. In the near future, an ad hoc committee convened by the City will examine our … [read more]

October 12, 2015 10:36 AM

In our ongoing effort to create opportunities to engage with our community – particularly our youth – in ways that promote safety, cultivate understanding, and build trust, the MPD Community Outreach section recently reinstated our Explorer Post 911 program. Police Exploring is a subset of the … [read more]

October 6, 2015 2:05 PM

The Madison Police Department is pleased to announce it has received a $156,000 federal criminal justice innovation grant to help overcome social divisions, improve trust between police and residents, and reduce crime within Southwest Madison. U.S. Department of Justice funding will enable … [read more]

September 4, 2015 9:22 AM

Have a cell phone you want to sell? How about a coffee table? These days it is very common to post items for sale on-line. We have all heard about scams that have taken place when it comes to selling/buying an item. While it is true that the majority of “transactions” are trustworthy and … [read more]

August 17, 2015 8:49 AM

Community Partnership exists as one of the Core Values of the Madison Police Department. For many years we were incredibly fortunate to partner with Dr. Darren Bean. Under his direction, the MPD became one of the first police agencies in the country to implement ‘Cardio Cerebral Resuscitation, … [read more]

August 3, 2015 8:56 AM

This week the Madison Police Department kicks off yet another community outreach initiative. Our Black Youth Academy (4th annual) and our Latino Youth Academy (5th annual) begin this week at the MPD Training Center after months of collaborative preparation with Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, and UW … [read more]

August 3, 2015 8:53 AM

This week the Madison Police Department kicks off yet another community outreach initiative. Our Black Youth Academy (4th annual) and our Latino Youth Academy (5th annual) begin this week at the MPD Training Center after months of collaborative preparation with Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, and UW … [read more]

July 27, 2015 9:39 AM

This year the Madison Police Department is hosting a National Night Out event at two of our districts. National Night Out is an annual effort to promote police/community partnerships, improve neighborhood connections and make our community a better place to live. MPD's West District will host … [read more]

July 13, 2015 9:32 AM

During my first year in office, several new initiatives were launched in an effort to keep our MPD on the cutting edge of service delivery. To that end, affirmative steps have been taken including: 1. Expanding our reach into more neighborhoods with the creation of five neighborhood resource … [read more]

July 6, 2015 7:50 AM

Focused community outreach initiatives are born out of an understanding that police cannot go it alone. We cannot begin to address the complex issues affecting our quality of life without assistance from citizens and the many diverse groups who work in and for the community. The Madison Police … [read more]

May 27, 2015 3:25 PM

A few months ago, I was approached by the President/CEO of the YMCA of Dane County, Carrie Wall, to discuss ways in which we might partner with them to create unique opportunities to connect with youth in our community and to help facilitate a safe space for our youth to engage through structured … [read more]

January 26, 2015 11:38 AM

On May 2nd, 2014, my third day as Chief for the City of Madison, I was finishing up on some work at my beloved training office when I heard the alert tone sound from my desktop scanner.  As cops, we have all experienced that anxious moment wondering if it will be a call assigned to me and … [read more]

January 12, 2015 11:33 AM

On January 9, 2015, the group known as the Young, Gifted, and Black Coalition sent an "Open Letter to Police Chief Koval" and recipients including Mayor Paul Soglin and City of Madison Alders. While there were many concerns and "demands" that were directed to me, one paragraph stood out … [read more]

December 16, 2014 1:02 PM

As our nation struggles with looking to improve measures taken to provide for greater transparency, accountability, and sensitivity of our police toward the citizens we are sworn to protect and serve, I have been asked what steps are being taken by MPD.  While there is no one-size-fits-all … [read more]

November 7, 2014 8:35 AM

For many area residents the thought of Halloween reminds us of kids in costume, trick or treating, and scary movies replayed on cable TV.  For many Madison Police Officers, thoughts of Halloween remind us of downtown, and the festivities that take place along the six blocks of State Street. … [read more]

September 19, 2014 8:46 AM

Each year, the United States honors the contributions that Latinos have made to the nation with a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration that runs from September 15 through October 15.  This period is a time to celebrate the heritage and culture of our Hispanic and Latino Community. The … [read more]

August 26, 2014 10:47 AM

The Madison Police Department has a long history of working with our community and has developed a great deal of experience in facilitating and responding to pre-planned demonstrations, events, assemblies, marches, and spontaneous incidents.  Our primary goal while managing large crowd … [read more]

August 19, 2014 2:40 PM

In an attempt to stay engaged with constituent questions and concerns, a number of community forums have been scheduled for the month of September.  These sessions are an opportunity to provide me with direct feedback and there will also be a representative from the hosting District should you … [read more]

August 12, 2014 2:17 PM

The Spring Student Party (formally known as the Mifflin Street Block Party) has traditionally been held on the first Saturday in May.  The party began in the late 1960’s as a street protest, where students took to street dancing in an effort to bring attention of their disdain for the Vietnam … [read more]

August 6, 2014 12:43 PM

Once again this year, several officers from MPD, other law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations and volunteers will be joining together to host a number of “youth academies” over the next three weeks.   All of these youth academies seek to: • Build a relationship of trust … [read more]

July 30, 2014 12:19 PM

Come join the Madison Police Department on Tuesday, August 5th for National Night Out!  The event takes place at Warner Park from 5PM to 8PM in the parking lot next to the Madison Mallards Stadium.  National Night Out is celebrated nationwide as an event for communities to bring residents and … [read more]

July 15, 2014 12:53 PM

The Madison Police Department is a proud sponsor of CampHERO, an experience for girls in grades K-12.  CampHERO, currently in its third year, was created by Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Badgerland Council in partnership with local police, fire and EMS agencies.  CampHERO teaches girls about the … [read more]

July 8, 2014 11:45 AM

The City of Madison Police Department has more than 500 employees, and serves a population of about 243,000.  Yet as recently as 2004, the department had virtually no K9 capabilities.  While one K9 officer was assigned to the countywide drug unit, the Madison Police Department had no K9s … [read more]

June 20, 2014 3:41 PM

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics has been a yearly event in Wisconsin since 1986.  The Torch Run in Wisconsin is the largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness for Special Olympics.  This event is held in all 50 States, 12 Canadian provinces and 48 countries.  It … [read more]

June 9, 2014 8:50 AM

The Madison Police Mounted Patrol Unit’s riding season is in full swing! You may see them out and about in a city park, bike path or neighborhood area during the week or you may see them working downtown on the weekends. The unit consists of four riders and four horses. The horses offer many … [read more]

April 14, 2014 3:53 PM

Each and every Madison Police Department officer is trained to respond to and to handle calls that involve persons with a mental illness by use of compassion, appropriate communication/de-escalation and stabilization skills and to work collaboratively toward an effective resolution.  We have a … [read more]

March 26, 2014 1:16 PM

There is a new effort and partnership between the Madison Police Department and the residents of the Parkside Apartment complex, located at the corner of W. Washington Avenue and S. Park Street.  The area consists of a mix of public and private housing complexes commonly known as the … [read more]

February 11, 2014 3:13 PM

The Madison Police Department participates in numerous events and activities throughout the year which include community/neighborhood events, celebrations and charity fundraisers.  We also participate in yearly events such as Big Rig Gig, Safety Saturday, Juneteenth Day events, Ethnic Fest, … [read more]

January 24, 2014 11:33 AM

The Madison Police Department recognizes racial disparities within the criminal justice system and is committed to helping mitigate the issues that impact this problem.  One of our core values is that we value diversity.  We value diversity in our community and also as to the make-up of our … [read more]

January 13, 2014 9:31 AM

One program, a 3 year time period, a socioeconomic savings of over $11 million dollars and a 96.5% reduction of criminal charges is what the SIU is about.  Please continue to read on to see the importance of this program and the huge impact it has had on our community!  Several years ago … [read more]

January 6, 2014 2:46 PM

19 well-deserved children, 23 Madison Police Department staff members, community agencies and members working together…..this all led to another successful Shop with a Cop event in 2013! The Shop with a Cop event was created in order to reach out to those less fortunate around the … [read more]

December 18, 2013 4:15 PM

Community Policing is an approach to policing that is a cornerstone to how we fulfill our mission here at the Madison Police Department.  It is about working with the members of our community to build trust and positive relationships in order to have a great city in which we can all live, work … [read more]

November 11, 2013 3:39 PM

All too often there is someone in our community who is involved in a domestic violence relationship that they don’t know how to cope with, how to get out of, how to be safe, or how to ask for help.  In January 2011, the Madison Police Department and Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) … [read more]

November 6, 2013 11:37 AM

When you watch the news or read the news it is almost a certainty that you will learn about negative issues, concerns or problems in a community.  It is a reality that these issues exist.  I like to bring attention however to positive events in our community that you may or may not be aware … [read more]

August 1, 2013 12:06 PM

I have just learned that the MPD has been selected as one of seven finalists for a prestigious international award. This is the second time in recent years the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing has recognized the MPD as finalist for the Goldstein Award. It "recognizes innovative and … [read more]

April 24, 2013 11:53 AM

There is some good news to report as we take a look at Madison's crime numbers from this past year, 2012. The big picture is our crime numbers dropped 3.4 percent when compared to 2011. We saw significant decreases in several key crime categories: assault, homicide, motor vehicle theft, … [read more]