CHIEF WRAY RESPONDS …

…. TO REPORTERS' QUESTIONS

The Madison Police Department is getting many calls regarding responses Chief Noble Wray has made to media in the past 24 hours. The following is what was sent to inquiring reporters: Greetings, In response to direct questions yesterday from Isthmus and Wisconsin State Journal reporters, the MPD released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: "The men and the women of the Madison Police Department train for crowd situations where an agitator or provocateur may try to create safety risks for citizens and officers. During the demonstration around the Capitol Square no such situation has arisen. Crowd behavior has been exemplary, and thousands of Wisconsin citizens are to be commended for the peaceful ways in which they have expressed First Amendment rights." Today, Chief Noble Wray would like to add the following to our response: " I spent a good deal of time overnight thinking about Governor Walker's response, during his news conference yesterday, to the suggestion that his administration ‘thought about' planting troublemakers among those who are peacefully protesting his bill. I would like to hear more of an explanation from Governor Walker as to what exactly was being considered, and to what degree it was discussed by his cabinet members. I find it very unsettling and troubling that anyone would consider creating safety risks for our citizens and law enforcement officers. Our department works hard dialoging with those who are exercising their First Amendment right, those from both sides of the issue, to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure they can demonstrate safely. I am concerned that anyone would try to undermine these relationships. I have a responsibility to the community, and to the men and women of this department - who are working long hours protecting and serving this community - to find out more about what was being considered by state leaders." Noble Wray