FPC audit unit lays out 2025 work plan; Collins settlement audits take priority

Sean Ratclo, the audit manager for the Fire and Police Commission, presented the audit unit's 2025 work plan at the March 25 Fire and Police Commission Oversight and Accountability Committee meeting, saying the Collins settlement audits will take precedence and that the unit will also pursue several non-settlement operational reviews.

The Collins settlement (referred to in the presentation as the Collins agreement) requires the FPC audit unit to complete 12 audits on a recurring six-month schedule. Ratclo said those required topics include traffic stops; field interviews (also described as stop or 'citizen contact' encounters); 'no-action' encounters; citizen complaints; and internally generated complaints handled through the Milwaukee Police Department and the Fire and Police Commission. "Those will take precedence over our other audits," Ratclo said.

Beyond the settlement audits, the 2025 plan lists operational reviews the audit unit intends to complete: a domestic violence (DV) calls-for-service audit, a ShotSpotter (gunshot detection) audit, an in-car (squad) video review, a use-of-force audit, an MPD overtime audit, a discipline-matrix review, and a supervisor-training review. Ratclo described key objectives for each: the DV audit will assess compliance with the department's domestic-violence guidance and procedures (noting mandatory reports, victim/witness rights, prior history checks, provision of hotline and handouts, evidence collection and professionalism) and will review CAD entries and body-worn camera footage. He said the DV audit includes 10 key objectives ranging from incident outcome and probable cause through evidence handling and customer service.

On ShotSpotter, Ratclo said the audit will check compliance with SOP 7-45 and five objectives including initial investigation, locating casings or victims, report completion and body-camera activation. The in-car video review will check activation and use under SOP 7-30, including front and rear cameras, evidence collection, and prisoner treatment caught on rear cameras. The use-of-force audit (SOP 4-60) will assess whether de-escalation, crisis intervention and policy-compliant force are being employed and will provide a neutral review of incidents. The MPD overtime audit was described as a recurring, resolution-mandated fiscal review; Ratclo cited a prior resolution referenced in the presentation. The discipline-matrix review will examine consistency in discipline under SOP 8-70. The supervisor-training item is framed as a review of training materials and delivery (not a formal audit) and references 'SOP 82' for training-related policy.

Ratclo reported the status of several items already in progress: the DV audit is currently on Director Todd's desk for review; the ShotSpotter audit is in a finalized draft stage; the in-car video audit is in draft; and the supervisor-training review began on March 24 and will run through April 11. He said audits generally examine closed cases rather than open investigations to avoid changing data and that sampling is used where the volume is large.

During questions from commissioners, Ratclo said officers are notified that audits occur but are not given case-level notice. "We do notify the Milwaukee Police Department about, hey, we're doing an audit," he said, adding that specific cases or time windows are selected after the fact so officers cannot modify behavior for a targeted review. He described sampling methods as randomized and statistical, using a +/-5% error tolerance and randomizer.org to select records when large populations make full review impractical.

Commissioners asked about victim surveys for the DV audit; Ratclo replied the audit will rely on CAD and body-worn camera review rather than surveying victims directly. Commissioners also asked about sample distribution across shifts; Ratclo said most audits cover all shifts, while some items (the in-car video review) may sample by a chosen month or shift if needed. He said the audit unit can provide more detail to the committee about supervisor-training materials and agreed to deliver an outline on request.

The presentation cited that audit updates will continue to be provided through the FPC regular agenda and that the audit unit intends to coordinate future audit-topic planning with the committee. No formal committee action was required on the report.

Ending: The audit manager closed by noting public access to audit-related SOPs and materials on MPD's website and offering to provide additional documentation to commissioners on request.