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MPD tells FPC it updated SOPs for homeless persons, crash reporting and vehicle evidence processing
Summary
Assistant Chief Craig Sarno briefed the Fire and Police Commission on amendments to three MPD policies, including removing a citation to Bell v. City of Boise and renaming technical communications to the Department of Emergency Communications; commissioners asked whether the changes would alter enforcement and were told they would not.
At the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission meeting April 3, the Milwaukee Police Department presented amendments to three policies: SOP 165 (homeless persons), SOP 650 (vehicle crashes) and a standard operating instruction for evidence vehicle processing.
Assistant Chief Craig Sarno summarized the department's changes and said the updates were largely administrative and intended to align policy language with current practice and interagency names. The department removed references to the Technical Communications Division (TCD) and replaced them with the Department of Emergency Communications (DEC), updated references to the statewide homeless data system (from the Wisconsin Service Point system to the Homeless Management Information System), revised timelines and filing expectations for squad accident reports in the department's AIM platform, and made multiple technical edits to the evidence-vehicle processing instruction. Sarno said the evidence processing instruction was worked on by four divisions: Homicide, Specialized Patrol, Forensics and Property Control.
Commissioners asked whether removing a citation to Bell v. City of Boise meant the department intended to begin arresting people who sleep in public. Sarno replied the removal reflected a change in the legal reference and that the department did not intend to change its operational approach: referral memos, outreach partners and existing system partners remain in place to mitigate complaints. Asked specifically whether the department intends to begin arresting people for sleeping in parks, Sarno answered, "Correct" when asked if there would be no change to enforcement practice; he also described continued use of outreach and referrals.
One commissioner spoke about the department's history regarding Dontre Hamilton and said they personally believe sleeping is a life-sustaining activity; they expressed gratitude MPD said it did not intend to change enforcement practices.
A commissioner asked a technical question about vehicle storage language in the burned-vehicle procedures; department staff said the policy had been reviewed by division subject-matter experts and they did not believe any text was missing.
Because the file was presented as a communication from MPD (FPC 212,020), commissioners did not take formal action; the item was received and staff proceeded to the next agenda item.
MPD's stated edits are administrative and intended to reflect current practice and the department's internal organization; commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring the effects of policy wording on practice and requested clarification when legal citations are modified.
