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MPD creates Community Resource Division, moves CART and SRO leadership under patrol
Summary
Milwaukee Police Department told the Fire and Police Commission it has reorganized to create a Community Resource Division under Patrol that will include the SRO program and the Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART); recruiting moves back to the academy and the community outreach manager posting will be vetted with community representation.
The Milwaukee Police Department told the Fire and Police Commission on Nov. 6 that it has established a Community Resource Division under the Patrol Bureau and reorganized several units to improve field coordination.
MPD representatives said the new division will house the school resource officer program and the Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART). CART had been administratively moved to the training division earlier but will now return to a patrol-aligned structure because its work is field centered.
Other organizational changes described:
- Recruiting and retention units were moved from the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement back to the academy to consolidate recruiting, citizen academy and training functions.
- The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement remains part of the executive command staff but will no longer be a direct report to the chief; MPD posted the community outreach manager position, and the selection panel is expected to include community representatives such as a Civil Rights Commission member.
- MPD said SRO leadership and CART will be co-located in newly available space at the Police Administration Building to reduce response times; MPD expects the move to be completed shortly after Thanksgiving.
MPD said the community outreach manager posting closes the day after the meeting and staff will begin vetting applications; Chief of Staff Heather Roff (and later Heather Huff speaking on the chief's behalf) said the department intends community representation on the hiring panel.
Why it matters: MPD framed the reorganization as a way to centralize school and crisis response resources and to improve coordination and responsiveness. Commissioners asked about physical locations and who will lead the Community Resource Division; MPD said the new division's captain would be introduced in the next agenda item.
Follow-up: Commissioners requested updates on the selection panel composition and plans for community input during hiring.
