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Committee reviews multiple police SOP changes, including removal of drawing-from-holster as a standalone use-of-force report

City of Milwaukee Public Safety and Health Committee · January 8, 2026

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Summary

The Fire and Police Commission reported several SOP updates (domestic-violence referrals, drone deployment, wellness team roles, Benchmark records transition). A notable change would remove reporting requirements for drawing a firearm from a holster as a standalone use-of-force event; members said they may seek further council review.

Jay Pusek, deputy director of the Fire and Police Commission, briefed the committee on multiple standard operating procedure updates covering domestic-violence victim referrals, drone deployment as an "airborne assessment team," wellness/peer-support team responsibilities, the department's transition to the Benchmark records system, changes to strip-search and crash-reporting procedures, and adjustments to disciplinary categories.

On use-of-force reporting, Pusek said SOP revisions would remove the drawing or display of a firearm from the list of events that require a standalone use-of-force report while keeping aiming or pointing a firearm as reportable. "To be clear, aiming or pointing a firearm at someone will remain reportable use of force. It would just be a situation where a firearm was maybe drawn from a holster but not pointed at anyone that's being removed," he said.

Alderman Scott Speicher and others raised concerns about accountability and unintended deterrence; Speicher linked the policy change to earlier debates around greater scrutiny of force. He said the council retains authority to counter chief-level changes by a two-thirds vote and suggested further council discussion. The committee held file 14 to the call of the chair so members can gather more information and potentially prepare a council resolution if they wish to block or modify the change.