[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6462785,"mediaKeyId","5795667-db24e7b9898e0b12336399a838e197be","parentId",5795667,"title","Fire and Police Commission adopts consent items and multiple promotions; reappointment rule change deferred","audioSeconds",2272,"startMs",5040000,"endMs",7312000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5795667-db24e7b9898e0b12336399a838e197be&start=5040&end=7312","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5795667-db24e7b9898e0b12336399a838e197be/thumbnail_5040000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462785/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Fire-and-Police-Commission-adopts-consent-items-and-multiple-promotions-reappointment-rule-change-deferred","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462785-8890c7f53389cb6562fb6104459f119e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776094167&Signature=a2QTYskTr30gDd~hmJPMavtMWEx227QPJ33gd1nEJGy~qr3qivbRoqL16TBPcAaqd18plrVwCSXvjdQ2MOusFsrpY9buAsYoQaZGsp1~Obh87qE47CHV6lqetRcO9CoIJaoOz8fPGlo1mlJX0Frd3ao905LtFw5~W83CWaFJwOK33IPswlPaSGSXveVl~-aWtFO9i-1mbzJJtOaOtOSmKyQt70a216Nvo1Vzp5JhmthUBYn9JZil82ZZdy3LOyZU7zufxCwKUBikI~YffkfJ8wQSnqDrpkJ1R1~SXzf6O3vH9PQGUnyVC853PifANGAGj5XYtTvlTPRnlrWHfFLN9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Milwaukee, WI","date","2025-09-18T18:50:00Z","article","The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission on Sept. 18 adopted routine consent resolutions, approved several job-evaluation reports and promotions across city departments, and deferred a proposed amendment to FPC Rule 13 (reappointment) for consideration at a later regular meeting.

Board action at a glance

- Consent agenda (Items 2–8): The commission adopted minutes and multiple appointment/job-bulletin resolutions by general consent with no objections (items included meeting minutes and various job announcement bulletins for the Milwaukee Police and Fire departments).

- Item 10 (FPC 212,201) — Proposed amendment to FPC Rule 13 (reappointment): The commission deferred final action to the next regular meeting (motion to hold until next regular meeting carried by voice vote). Staff had presented text to structure reappointment windows (1 year and a secondary category up to 3 years with conditions); commissioners requested additional clarification and background processes before final adoption.

- Job-evaluation and classification reports: The commission approved job-evaluation reports and retitling requests, including the Department of Emergency Communications engineering position (item 12), forensic print examiner titles (item 13), police forensic services director and manager pay adjustments (item 14), and other position retitlings. Votes on these items were approved by roll call or voice as recorded in the meeting.

- Promotions and personnel actions: The commission approved promotions across multiple departments. Highlights included promotions in Emergency Communications (15 leads promoted, item 16), Fire Department administrative extension (item 17), Police Department promotions to captain, lieutenant and sergeant ranks (items 18–20) and several civilian payroll promotions (items 21–22). Most promotions were approved by roll call vote. The promotion of Sergeant Jonathan Mejia Rivera to lieutenant (item 19) passed on a roll call with five yays and three nays (Commissioners Burgos, Evans, Ramey, Schneider and Spencer voted yes; Commissioners Fung, Worl Patterson and Chair Horowitz voted no); other promotions recorded unanimous affirmative roll-call votes in the record.

Why it matters: The personnel actions finalize staffing changes and civilianization efforts the departments have requested to align job titles, close vacancies with civilian hires where appropriate, and advance internal candidates to supervisory ranks. The deferred rule-change item (reappointment timing) will return for further consideration after staff provides clarifications on background-investigation procedures and the limits on reappointment when candidates have worked at other agencies.

Selected formal actions (summarized from the meeting record)

- FPC 212,206–212,208 (Items 2–8) — Consent agenda: adopted by general consent.
- FPC 212,201 (Item 10) — Amendment to FPC Rule 13 (reappointment): deferred to next regular meeting (motion carried by voice vote).
- FPC 212,216 (Item 16) — Promotions to Emergency Communications lead positions: approved by roll call (ayes recorded in roll call).
- FPC 212,217 (Item 17) — Extension of probation for accounting specialist (Fire Department): approved by voice vote.
- FPC 212,218 (Item 18) — Promotions to captain (two candidates): approved by roll call.
- FPC 212,219 (Item 19) — Promotions to lieutenant (three candidates): two candidates approved by roll call; promotion of Sergeant Jonathan Mejia Rivera approved 5–3.
- FPC 212,220 (Item 20) — Promotions to sergeant (five candidates): approved by roll call.
- FPC 212,221–212,222 (Items 21–22) — Payroll promotions and clerical promotions: approved by roll call.

Meeting notes: The commission held interviews in closed session earlier that evening for promotion candidates at captain and lieutenant ranks, a customary practice identified by staff. Several roll-call votes followed those closed-session interviews. Director Leon Todd read departmental communications and confirmed that the promotion candidates and personnel actions had been vetted per FPC practice.

No litigation, claim payouts or detailed settlement totals were approved or settled at this meeting; a commissioner requested that staff explore whether claims-and-damages information could be added to future pursuit-related reporting, subject to city-attorney record access.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Milwaukee, WI - FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSION on 2025-09-18 6:00 PM - Regular Session - Second Amended Agenda","oneSentenceSummary","At its Sept. 18 meeting the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission adopted consent resolutions, approved job-classification reports and promotions across departments, and deferred a proposed amendment to its reappointment rule to a future meeting.","taxTitle","Milwaukee , Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2851,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6462790,"Milwaukee residents press Fire and Police Commission to address MPD pursuit policy; commissioners discuss changing public-comment practice",4916,33000,4949000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5795667-db24e7b9898e0b12336399a838e197be&start=33&end=4949","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5795667-db24e7b9898e0b12336399a838e197be/thumbnail_33000.jpg","/articles/6462790/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Milwaukee-residents-press-Fire-and-Police-Commission-to-address-MPD-pursuit-policy-commissioners-discuss-changing-public-comment-practice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462790-4223645d3a76ea472588a4c9213f0fe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776094167&Signature=GwQ9NJHTodeXlQCzgc0IKyqgFkTOACQCnRiRkp~5jwSsc40woX0xti1iT8zptPuQ8mgJV7V2T6037BXHH7Ib8Mi~9o-G4YruCG6-w7b4xhLOAvWaGLvJ6H9VCQP4PQjgpGjZtWDiJIe6Azu2L0ANJ2C9HGruqa-tq-SvKnetF9lA9yMHze0fBF6i8hQZowz6~K5HpuAuW6Kfmj-gbBWIIFWU9pLf5QOPFB4zgYH1iIYFIFVHLQ3jARj11-e0CQ96oZv5FmvZSyfkR2ajl7~0qGAfAiIplOD8NnBkfH2OofhjqFREky-V~S4JD5SBXDYtzoYk~iHsa6nDA1nBpkPWLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Milwaukee residents told the Fire and Police Commission on Sept. 18 that the Milwaukee Police Department’s pursuit policy is endangering bystanders and should be tightened, and they urged the commission to change how it collects and responds to public comment.

The appeals came during the commission’s public-comment period, after Executive Director Leon Todd presented a communication file (FPC-212,211) on whether commissioners should engage with the public during comment. Todd noted that Wisconsin statutes 19.83 and 19.84 permit public bodies to discuss matters raised during a public-comment period so long as they do not take unannounced official action. Todd said the change of practice would be allowed, though boards commonly avoid interaction to reduce the risk of inadvertently acting on an unposted item.

The public’s requests centered on police high-speed pursuits and multiple recent crashes that speakers said are linked to MPD pursuit policy. Casey Serrano, reading a statement from Ethan Costello of the South Side, said: “This is the second police chase crash that has happened at 30 Fifth And Vliet in the last 2 months…And now, 3 dead.” Several other speakers said the city has seen seven fatal incidents this year that they tie to pursuit policy.

Why it matters: residents said pursuit-related crashes have killed and seriously injured innocent people, and they urged the commission to press for policy changes or oversight to prevent further deaths. Commissioners said they lack unilateral authority to rewrite MPD standard operating procedures (SOPs) but can put items on future agendas, make formal recommendations to the chief or common council, and request data.

Speakers urged specific policy changes. Brian Verdin and others cited recommendations from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group and national best practices: restrict pursuits to violent felonies or immediate threats to life, establish mandatory disengagement triggers in high-risk conditions (dense pedestrian zones, major intersections, large speed differentials), require supervisory control, use noncontact alternatives (air support, GPS tagging, pursuit-termination technologies), and publish quarterly pursuit dashboards (initiation reasons, durations, top speeds, injuries, fatalities and termination reasons).

Multiple speakers cited the commission’s May pursuit data report and asked for further information. Alex Larson highlighted three items in that report: a 49% apprehension rate for pursuits, a notable increase in chases exceeding 75 mph, and a 2017 policy change that coincides with a near threefold rise in chases. Larson asked whether the city attorney or the commission could compile claims and settlements tied to pursuits; Director Todd said settlement and litigation data would reside with the city attorney and common council but agreed to look into adding more context to future reports if the records exist.

Commissioners and staff responses

Chair Commissioner Horowitz and others said the commission will treat this as a communication file and will work with the director to schedule a dedicated agenda item on pursuit policy. Horowitz said the FPC cannot unilaterally change SOPs because the state legislature has limited the city’s authority, but the board can “build a persuasive case” for the chief or request common-council action.

Executive Director Leon Todd summarized legal constraints and opportunities: he told the commission that state open-meetings statutes do allow discussion during public comment (citing Wis. Stat. 19.83 and 19.84) and that the board retains options short of direct rulemaking, including recommending changes to the chief, asking the common council to act by resolution or two-thirds vote, or adding a communication file for further hearing and public testimony.

Public comment procedure changes

Commissioners debated altering how public comment is organized. Several speakers and commissioners recommended allowing public comment after each agenda item — a model used in Milwaukee County committees — so community members can respond to the record and to testimony from MPD and other “experts” presented by the department. Supporters said the change would make comments more germane and reduce the risk of the public having their testimony rebutted later without ability to respond. Opponents raised concerns about meetings running long and the potential for the process to be “weaponized” by burying items late on the agenda; the chair also said practical limits on time and repetition must be enforced.

What the commission said it would do next

The FPC did not vote on any SOP change. Commissioners agreed to:
- Treat pursuit policy as a communication file and place it on a future agenda for fuller discussion;
- Explore whether the commission can add more context to its pursuit report (injuries, fatalities and financial settlements) subject to data availability and limits on automated retrieval; and
- Consider formalizing public-comment procedures (online submissions, clearer written guidance and possibly public comment by agenda item) so the public understands what to expect before, during and after testimony.

Several community groups who spoke at the meeting — including Milwaukee Turners and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression — requested a codified public-comment procedure, routine public dashboards on pursuits and an opportunity to present follow-up materials to the commission.

Ending note: commissioners acknowledged the emotional weight of the testimony and the public’s frustration. No final policy action was taken Sept. 18; the commission said it will bring the item back for more evidence, recommendations and possible formal motions at a future meeting.","Dozens of residents urged the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission to seek changes to Milwaukee Police Department pursuit rules after multiple recent fatal crashes. Commissioners discussed revising how the commission handles public comment and agreed to treat pursuit policy as a communication file for future agenda consideration.","actionData","errors"]

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Fire and Police Commission adopts consent items and multiple promotions; reappointment rule change deferred

Milwaukee residents press Fire and Police Commission to address MPD pursuit policy; commissioners discuss changing public-comment practice