Resolutions urging Fire and Police Commission to adopt new reform policies recommended for approval

At Thursday’s meeting (July 16) of the Public Safety and Health Committee, the committee recommended approval of three files aiming to urge implementation of reforms in police training, tactics, cultural competency, and emotional intelligence. The files were introduced by Common Council President Cavalier Johnson.

File #200320 is a resolution urging the Fire and Police Commission to adopt de-escalation and restraint policies for the Police Department in alignment with the “Eight Can’t Wait” campaign. The second file, #200430, is a substitute resolution urging the Fire and Police Commission to implement an emotional intelligence and cultural competency framework and assessment criteria to be included alongside all Police Department training. The third file, #200432, is a substitute resolution urging the Fire and Police Commission to add emotional intelligence and cultural competency assessments to the aptitude tests for evaluating Police Department recruits and to add applicant preference points based on certain score ranges in emotional intelligence and cultural competency.

Joining President Johnson as co-sponsors on all three files are Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey and Alderman Nik Kovac. Alderwoman Chantia Lewis and Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic are added as co-sponsors on file #200320

“I would like to thank the Public Safety and Health Committee for pushing forward with these three resolutions and recommending them for approval by the full Common Council,” said President Johnson. “The public protests and demonstrations have highlighted the need for police tactics related to de-escalation and restraint to be reformed.”

Directing his thoughts specifically to file #200430, President Johnson said: “Emotional intelligence and cultural competency are crucial for police work and should be recognized, rewarded, and continually integrated into all law enforcement training. This skill set is just as important as other factors that recruits are awarded preference points on, such as living in the city of Milwaukee and holding certain educational credentials.”

“Also, the passing of these resolutions will urge the Fire and Police Commission to implement new frameworks to ensure officers are competent in appropriate de-escalation techniques in alignment with the data-driven recommendations of the “Eight Can’t Wait Campaign,” he said. “While these reforms are not in of themselves sufficient in addressing institutional racism within law enforcement, it is an important step in continuing to advocate for accountability and transparency.”

All three files will be before the full Common Council for adoption at its next regularly scheduled meeting on July 28 at 9 a.m.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.