My favorite story of 2023: Residents express concerns that changes to Fire and Police Commission will lead to weaker oversight of Milwaukee police | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
December 29, 2023
It is not rare that reporters describe a piece of news as being pivotal or consequential.
News outlets are filled with over-the-top clickbait to get your attention. One reason I love working at NNS is because we work hard to avoid this sort of journalism.
But without exaggeration, the changes that took place this year with the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission were pivotal and consequential.
These changes are affecting us right here and now, and that is why I wanted to write this story.
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While reporting on the changes to the commission brought about by 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, I learned just how unique Milwaukee’s commission has been.
Milwaukee is one of a few places in the country where civilians – people who are not employees of the police or fire departments – have been able to create policy for these departments.
This is a power that the commission used in the past few years, including the banning of chokeholds as well as “no-knock” warrants.
By speaking to the commission, and making their voices heard in other ways, residents have been able to have meaningful influence over how their police and fire departments act.
Again, this is more the exception than the rule.
When Act 12 was enacted this year, the commission’s ability to create policy was eliminated.
This also means that residents’ influence over the police and fire departments was, at the very least, stunted.
The passage of Act 12 by the Wisconsin Legislature also demonstrated how things that happen at the state level can have profound effects locally.
Despite the changes, the main lesson I have taken from this change is that Milwaukee residents are more than capable of this work.
Milwaukeeans insist on making their voices heard.
Read the story here.