MILWAUKEE, WI - Late last week, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman issued an 11-page policy restricting foot pursuits, prompting backlash and criticism from the Milwaukee Police Association.
"There were some legalities with it that we could not really argue with,” Milwaukee Police Association President Alex Ayala told Wisconsin Right Now. “But we did not agree with it and told the chief that. We also wanted clear language for our officers to follow. It was not clear and concise."
Some officers also expressed their concerns, according to WRN. "This is just another way to defund the police,” said one frustrated officer, whose name can’t be printed because he fears retaliation. “No one is going to want to do this job in Milwaukee. Such a shame. The department is a shell of what it once was."
In response, MPD said, "As mentioned, this is new; therefore, there is no old one. Also, this is a new policy that went through the meet conferral process with the unions." The policy has other provisions, including banning officers from chasing people solely based on their running from police.
"It is the policy of the Milwaukee Police Department that members may engage in foot pursuits with suspects only when there is an articulable, reasonable suspicion to believe that the suspect has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime,” the policy says.
"It is the policy of the Milwaukee Police Department that officer and public safety shall be the overriding consideration in determining whether a foot pursuit will be initiated or continued." MPD then sent an updated response:
"This SOP is meant to codify our existing training while incorporating national best practices. This new policy creates guidelines regarding the use of foot pursuits, as foot pursuits are inherently dangerous. The Milwaukee Police Department must establish a balance between protecting the safety of the public and officers during pursuits on foot and law enforcement’s duty to enforce the law and apprehend suspects."
Online people criticized it as well. "That’s not a policy, that’s a training document. 11 pages is unworkable as day-to-day policy guidance. Field ops policies should be no more than 2 pages. A lot of what they are defining here is redundant to other policies they should have," one person wrote.
"Well, it took a while, ever since the end of 2003, but they’ve finally turned MPD into the law enforcement version of the Fire Department. Individual initiative has morphed into ‘reactive policing.’ Might as well just adopt a policy that has Officers only responding to calls from their District stations,” former MPD Capt. Glenn Frankovis wrote.
"There were some legalities with it that we could not really argue with,” Milwaukee Police Association President Alex Ayala told Wisconsin Right Now. “But we did not agree with it and told the chief that. We also wanted clear language for our officers to follow. It was not clear and concise."
Some officers also expressed their concerns, according to WRN. "This is just another way to defund the police,” said one frustrated officer, whose name can’t be printed because he fears retaliation. “No one is going to want to do this job in Milwaukee. Such a shame. The department is a shell of what it once was."
In response, MPD said, "As mentioned, this is new; therefore, there is no old one. Also, this is a new policy that went through the meet conferral process with the unions." The policy has other provisions, including banning officers from chasing people solely based on their running from police.
"It is the policy of the Milwaukee Police Department that members may engage in foot pursuits with suspects only when there is an articulable, reasonable suspicion to believe that the suspect has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime,” the policy says.
"It is the policy of the Milwaukee Police Department that officer and public safety shall be the overriding consideration in determining whether a foot pursuit will be initiated or continued." MPD then sent an updated response:
"This SOP is meant to codify our existing training while incorporating national best practices. This new policy creates guidelines regarding the use of foot pursuits, as foot pursuits are inherently dangerous. The Milwaukee Police Department must establish a balance between protecting the safety of the public and officers during pursuits on foot and law enforcement’s duty to enforce the law and apprehend suspects."
Online people criticized it as well. "That’s not a policy, that’s a training document. 11 pages is unworkable as day-to-day policy guidance. Field ops policies should be no more than 2 pages. A lot of what they are defining here is redundant to other policies they should have," one person wrote.
"Well, it took a while, ever since the end of 2003, but they’ve finally turned MPD into the law enforcement version of the Fire Department. Individual initiative has morphed into ‘reactive policing.’ Might as well just adopt a policy that has Officers only responding to calls from their District stations,” former MPD Capt. Glenn Frankovis wrote.
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