MILWAUKEE — The ACLU of Wisconsin today reminded the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission that it should carefully consider community input in the process of selecting a new permanent police chief, whether or not they choose the current acting Milwaukee Police Department Chief Norman.
Last week, the FPC announced that they planned to hear from the community in a series of hearings set for the coming weeks. The hearings would allow community members to ask Norman questions about his performance as acting MPD police chief.
According to data from CJI’s Third Annual Report released last month, MPD continues to stop and frisk Black and Latinx people at significantly higher rates than white people. Data shows that the MPD conducts traffic stops on Black Milwaukee residents an estimated 9.5 times more often than white residents and an estimated 2.9 times more on Latinx residents.
“Milwaukee residents deserve to have input over who their next police chief should be, including a process that centers those communities most harmed by police misconduct and over-policing. Real community input into the chief selection means that confirmation cannot be a foregone conclusion,” said Tomás Clasen, advocacy director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. “Whether or not the FPC selects the current Acting Chief Norman for the role, the next police chief should change the culture within the department, including making a firm commitment to unbiased, constitutional policing.”
The FPC has scheduled two in-person events and one virtual event for the community to ask Norman questions:
- Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. — Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N. 64th St., Milwaukee. Register here.
- Thursday, Oct. 28, 6-7 p.m. — Virtually. Register here.
- Saturday, Oct. 30, 10-11:30 a.m. Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co., 224 W. Bruce St., Milwaukee. Register here.
Send a comment or questions to the FPC commission at fpc@milwaukee.gov or send a comment via our message action form here.
