Assembly Passes Bill That Adds Penalties, Definitions to Police-in-MPS Policy

The Wisconsin Assembly Chambers has an abundance of artistic detail maintained by decorative painters and conservation technicians Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Milwaukee Public Schools would be required to have a police presence under a bill that passed the Wisconsin Assembly on Thursday

The GOP-authored requirement, which passed with no Democratic votes, was approved as part of a package of crime-related bills advanced by Republicans.

Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Town of Delafield, said school police — sometimes referred to as school resource officers or SROs — are popular among many school leaders.

“SROs do wonderful things in schools. They develop relationships with students. They can diffuse situations before they get out of control,” she said. “Our teachers want them back. Our parents want them back. We talk about keeping our kids safe. This is probably the best way we can do it.”

Under the proposal, MPS would be required to maintain at least 25 officers. The cost would be split between the district and the city, and the city would be required to report its compliance to the Legislature’s budget committee, which is controlled by Republicans. The bill would also penalize the city and district for noncompliance by withholding state money.

Democrats who opposed the bill said there are other ways to improve school safety.

“We all want our babies and our staff to feel safe in our schools. That’s something that we all can and should agree on,” said Rep. Sequanna Taylor, D-Milwaukee. “But safety isn’t about having officers in the hallway. True safety comes from creating environments where students and staff have the tools to succeed.”

Taylor said that meant investing in mental health resources and fully funding public schools.

The requirement to place police in first-class city schools comes as Milwaukee readies its schools for the return of a law enforcement presence following a court order last month. The requirement was added to a local government funding deal struck two years ago.

It’s been subject to a prolonged fight, which lawmakers referred to on the Assembly floor Thursday.

Rep. Christine Sinicki, D-Milwaukee, called the bill “very useless.”

“It’s just words on paper because believe it or not, the SROs are trained and ready to go,” she said.

Republicans said Milwaukee has taken too long to implement the requirement and the bill would stop future delays.

Sinicki offered an amendment that would have funded student mental health. It failed, while the bill itself passed 53-44 along party lines.

Other crime bills include mandatory reporting of sexual misconduct, penalties for reckless driving

Among other bills approved by Republicans on Thursday was one that would require schools to report incidents of alleged sexual misconduct by staff to parents.

The proposal was approved by voice vote. Before it passed, lawmakers argued it would improve trust between schools and families and increase transparency around school safety.

“Parents deserve to be informed and to have the ability to act in the best interest of their child,” said Rep. Priscilla Prado, D-Milwaukee, becoming emotional. “We are their advocates. When schools and their administrators keep parents out of the loop, all that is accomplished are growing feelings of anger and distrust.”

Also on a voice vote, lawmakers approved a bill that would tighten rules around impounding vehicles used in reckless driving. Currently, local law enforcement may impound a car if the person driving owns the car and had been charged with reckless driving in the past. This rule would allow impoundment even if the driver doesn’t own the vehicle.

That’s in response to a scourge of reckless driving incidents in Milwaukee and elsewhere, sometimes tied to joyriding in stolen cars.

Other crime bills passed by Republicans on Thursday include:

• A bill that would increase the penalty for child trafficking, if the crime involved three or more children. The measure, which passed on a voice vote, would make such crimes a Class A felony, which merits a life imprisonment sentence.
• A requirement that the state recommend revoking a person’s extended supervision, parole or probation if they’re charged with a crime while on release. Right now, such a step is optional, not mandatory.
• A bill to increase penalties on people convicted of crime by combining the value of all goods stolen over a six-month period, instead of treating multiple thefts as separate crimes when sentencing.

The bills now advance to the state Senate, where they would need to pass before heading to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk.

Listen to the WPR report

Wisconsin Assembly passes bill to require police presence in Milwaukee Public Schools was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.