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FPC audit: MPD overtime policies generally followed but some control plans not timely
Summary
An FPC audit of police overtime procedures found that MPD generally complied with its SOPs but that some commanding-officer overtime-control plans were not updated on schedule; the department said it will require timelier submissions next year and continues quarterly budget monitoring.
The Fire and Police Commission Oversight and Accountability Committee received a communication from FPC audit staff reviewing Milwaukee Police Department policies and practices to limit overtime.
FPC Audit Manager Sean Ratclaw told the committee the audit examined SOP 555 (Compensation and Overtime Procedures), commanding officers'' overtime-control plans, and other documentation and monitoring practices. The audit noted that some overtime is unavoidable for vital services (for example, responses to shootings or extended criminal investigations) but that internal controls help reduce unnecessary overtime.
Ratclaw said MPD uses four-digit codes to classify overtime types (special events, traffic control, court appearances, grant-funded details) and that good coding helps ensure overtime charged to events such as sporting events is charged to the event rather than the general fund. The audit examined authorization, supervisor approvals, monitoring of overtime patterns, and whether overtime plans were updated annually.
The audit found that while department practices largely complied with SOP 555, several commanding-officer overtime-control plans supplied to auditors were dated July 30 and Aug. 1, 2025, rather than being in place at the start of the year; auditors said many districts had been operating on 2024 plans. The report recommended establishing clearer expectations and timelines so commanding officers submit annually updated control plans early in the year.
Assistant Chief Sarno told the committee MPD will require commanding officers to submit control plans no later than the start of pay period 2 in the budget year and that quarterly executive-level budget reviews remain in place. Sarno said the department has shifted some reporting from monthly to quarterly after concluding monthly reports produced limited additional variance insight; bureau- and district-level meetings still occur regularly.
Commissioners also discussed downtown deployment and the ''Code Red'' entertainment-district staffing question, which Ratclaw and MPD officials said will be part of ongoing 2026 budget discussions. Audit staff said the audit and a prior overtime audit are posted on the FPC website for reference.
The item was presented as a communication and required no committee action.
