[Milwaukee, WI] – On Monday, April 24, at 6PM, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression will picket the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA) at their office on 63rd St. and Bluemound Rd. The MPA filed a temporary injunction against the Fire and Police Commission (FPC) after they voted in favor of adopting a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Thursday, April 20. This SOP requires the police to publicly release video footage of critical incidents within 15 days. It also grants the victim’s next of kin access to the footage within 48 hours of the incident.
During the past several months of FPC meetings, the MPD and MPA were given various opportunities to voice their concerns about the SOP. They met privately with Executive Director Leon Todd. Police Chief Norman explicitly stated on numerous occasions that his department would comply with whichever SOP the FPC adopted. Now, the MPA is attempting to delay this process even further, falsely claiming that their concerns weren’t heard.
Monday’s picket is meant to bring attention to the MPA’s unfounded accusations and to the following demands:
- FPC to uphold the current SOP
- Transparency and accountability now
The FPC sets policy that the MPD must follow. The MPA should follow Chief Norman’s promise to comply with the SOP. Transparency and accountability from the MPD are needed in Milwaukee, and the MPA must not interfere with this process.
