Public Safety committee urges state law to require police notification of suspected child abuse

The Public Safety Committee on Nov. 7 approved a resolution urging state legislators to require that suspected or threatened child abuse be reported to law enforcement.

Patrick Mitchell, chief of the West Allis Police Department, told the committee "most citizens probably think if they call Child Protective Services and report suspected abuse or actual abuse that Child Protective Services has to call the police, then that is not the case." Mitchell said the resolution supports bills introduced this legislative session that would change that practice statewide.

Mitchell said the bills were introduced before the Oct. 18 death of Dante Campbell in the city, and that the criminal complaint in that case notes Child Protective Services was contacted in July. "Law enforcement across the state fully supports being notified of suspected or threatened child abuse," Mitchell said, and he described support for the city resolution urging lawmakers to pass the legislation.

Committee members asked for clarification of current practice. A committee member summarized that police generally are called when there is evidence of certain criminal categories, such as trafficking, but not in every report to CPS. Mitchell and other officers said the proposed legislation would require consistent notification across counties so law enforcement is aware of suspected or threatened child abuse cases.

A committee member described being "shocked" to learn the police had not been notified in the Campbell case and said local leaders and agencies had since coordinated resources. The member added, "no child should slip through the cracks," and urged support for the bills at the state level.

A motion to approve the resolution was moved and seconded; the committee approved it by voice vote. The motion and vote were recorded as a voice vote; no roll call or individual vote tallies were given in the committee record.