Contact:
Julie Velazquez – Outreach Chair of MAARPR
Email: staff@maarpr.org
[Milwaukee, WI] – On Thursday, June 11th 2026, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) and other community organizations attended the Public Safety and Health Committee’s meeting where Alders discussed recommended changes to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) 660 and 575 which would restrict unnecessary, reckless police chases and require police to release footage when there are critical incidents related to police chases. These recommendations came from the community and countless hours of input and were unanimously adopted by the Fire and Police Commission (FPC) back in March.
As of the meeting yesterday, Alders Moore, Dimitrijevic, and Brower are cosponsoring legislation that mirrors the FPC’s recommendation. The alderpeople of this committee heard members of the FPC and the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) speak on these recommended changes. However, even when presented with hundreds of signatures, data from the NYU Policing Project, calls from residents, emails, and e-comments, members of the committee refused to endorse the necessary changes to the SOPs. We want to make it very clear that this does not mean it is the end of this fight – on the contrary, this fight will continue forward to the full Common Council.
Implementing these changes will save lives. In 2025, 9 people were killed during police car chases and there have already been reckless and disastrous chases in 2026. The Milwaukee Alliance will continue to work hand in hand with various organizations such as Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, the alders who sponsor these recommendations, and most importantly the hundreds of community members we’ve created relationships with to make these recommendations a reality.
Pursue Safety, Not People!
