MADISON, Wis. – Candidate for Attorney General, Eric Toney, applauded Madison City Council for rejecting the creation of Section 5.17 of the Madison General Ordinances, but expressed concern over the added level of bureaucratic oversight.
Toney released the following statement:
“I am pleased to learn that the Madison City Council rejected this ordinance. As was made clear by several law enforcement officials and organizations, including the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association, this ordinance would have severely hindered police officers’ ability to keep law-abiding community members safe and protect local businesses.
“We want people to be able to exercise their right to peacefully assemble, but when bad actors choose violence and destruction, officers need every tool at their disposal to protect citizens and avoid the destruction we observed in 2020. The rejection of this ordinance allows law enforcement agencies to police effectively in the most unpredictable situations.
“However, I am concerned to see the added level of bureaucratic oversight which may cause officers to hesitate in times of great distress. Transparency is certainly necessary, but there are already mechanisms of review in place to ensure these tools are used appropriately.”District Attorney Eric Toney is endorsed by over 100 Sheriffs, District Attorneys, and Police Chiefs, and has been unanimously endorsed by the Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, the Milwaukee Police Association, the Racine Police Association, the Kenosha Professional Police Association, and the Milwaukee Police Supervisors Organization.
