Six regular meeting of the fire and police commission.

Present are commissioners Burgos, Evans, Fong, Schneider, Spence, World Patterson, Ishian?

Yep.

And myself, Commissioner Horowitz.

Commissioners Spencer and Remy are excused.

Also present is FPC executive director.

Leon Todd.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We will begin with item number one, public comment.

The first individual.

Oh, I'm sorry.

For those who would like to speak and are here in person, please come up and sit at the front table when your name is called.

If you are appearing virtually and have registered in advance to speak, please use the raise my hand feature in the webinar tools and unmute yourself when called upon to speak.

Each person will be given up to five minutes to speak.

And the first individual for public comment is Kay LaFord.

Lafond, excuse me.

Um, I've been here a couple times before commenting on a couple issues.

Um I've mentioned before that I'm a reporter, but I just published uh the first story I've put out since I moved to Milwaukee a few years ago.

Um I did a pretty intense investigative story on basically interactions between the Milwaukee Police Department and local um corporation Durko slash Lockheed Martin.

And I discovered a lot of really what I feel are disturbing things, and I just wanted to come here and like formally present them to you a little bit.

Um I want to say for the record, I realize I'm not the kind of journalist who just keeps my opinions to myself, and that's on purpose.

Um I'm a journalist, but I'm also a human, and I also live here and am personally invested in surveillance in our city.

So anyways, in the year of 2025, um the Milwaukee Police Department and Lockheed Martin slash Durgo Aerospace exchanged over 150 emails um focusing on basically the actions of local um anti-war protesters.

Um the emails did not say professional.

Um Milwaukee Police Department members exchanged gifts with Lockheed Martin employees.

Um they received mocking comments about protesters, and it gave an altogether like cozy picture of the relationship.

Um that really, really deeply disturbed me as a reporter and a human.

Um, I know the the council is supposed to hear um like uh community policing presentation of some kind tonight.

Um, and I just I think it's really important to name that like a lot of stuff that I that I've already that I've looked at and seen their tense seems to be a little fluffy, right?

Like I feel like a lot of community policing really feels like PR when you look at the fact that the cops are clearly on the side of big multinational corporations.

Um, I don't feel safe here, I don't feel secure here.

I did an interview with the police department about this, and basically their stance was that um we should just be glad for the protection and not question their loyalty, and I didn't like that at all.

Um yeah, that's really all I got to say.

Um, the cops shouldn't be so cozy with um a war profiteer, and I hope that you will take this seriously and uh, yeah, maybe do something to address it.

I don't know what that might be.

Maybe a policy limiting cop fraternation fraternization with corporations locally.

Um, but I just I'm more disturbed than I've been in a while.

I've been a reporter for a long time.

This is one of the most disturbing things I've ever uncovered.

So your story's being published.

It's been published.

Where?

Uh, I have a sub stack.

I'm just an independent journalist.

I don't have an institution, but I can I can write the link down for you.

Yeah, would you provide the link?

I will.

I will provide the link.

Okay, I'll write it down.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, that was our only individual uh appearing in person for public comment.

Uh Bridget, is there anyone appearing online for public comment?

We do not have anyone online, Doctor.

Thank you.

There being no further comments, this concludes the public comment portion of the meeting.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

I will now read the items on the consent agenda after I do so.

Any commissioner may remove any of these items to the regular agenda for discussion or appropriate action.

Items not removed may be adopted by general consent without debate.

Item two, FPC 212551.

Resolution relating to the May 21st, 2026 meeting minutes.

Item three, FPC 21252.

Resolution relating to the appointment to the forensic print examiner one position.

And item number four, FPC 21253.

Resolution relating to the emergency vehicle mechanic three eligible list for the Milwaukee Fire Department.

This concludes the consent agenda.

Would any of the commissioners like to remove any of these items from the consent agenda to the regular agenda?

If there are no objections, the items on the consent agenda will be adopted by general consent.

Are there any objections?

Hearing no objections, these items are adopted.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

I will now read the items under examination, starting with item five, FPC 212554, resolution relating to the fire captain job announcement bulletin for the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Do any of the commissioners have any questions or comments regarding this item?

Okay.

Was there any change in this jab announcement from previous ones?

No, the only thing is that it does note that preference points will be applied, and uh we now have uh for the fire department.

Well, as of June 1st, community service preference.

Ah, okay.

So those are going into effect.

Yes.

Okay, great.

Is there a motion on this matter?

So move.

Second.

Any discussion?

I will take a voice vote on this item.

All in favor, please signify by saying aye.

I any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Motion carries.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

Item six, FPC 21255.

Resolution relating to the fire lieutenant job announcement bulletin for the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Umce again, uh, is there any change in the announcement?

Only with respect to the community service preference points.

Okay.

Uh any questions or comments.

I'll take a motion.

So move.

Second.

Second.

Thanks.

I will take a voice vote on this item.

All in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Motion carries.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

I'll now read the items under new business starting with item seven, FPC 21-2556.

Resolution relating to fire and police commission recommendation concerning common council file number two five two one zero nine, an ordinance relating to the review of certain proposed changes to standard operating procedures and excuse me, standard operating instructions.

And Madam Chair, if it's all right, I'll give a brief overview of this.

Yes, go ahead.

Um, so this common council file that's that's uh uh referenced in the file title uh is uh at current uh a file and name only.

Uh so there's no uh ordinance in the file, it's just it just has the title uh which is uh as the title suggests an ordinance relating to uh review of uh of certain policies and and standard operating instructions.

Uh there is a a working draft um uh of an ordinance for this uh that is still under construction uh or still being drafted and worked out.

So I'm gonna be a little vague because uh it is subject to change.

But the basic idea behind this, and this has been discussed by Chair Horowitz and then the chair of the public safety and health committee, uh Alderman Scott Spiker.

Uh effectively, if there is a motion or proposed motion by a common council member to change police department or fire department policy, it would first be referred to the fire and police commission uh for the commission to give a recommendation.

Uh the commission would have a reasonable amount of time, such as 60 days to uh to to give a recommendation, um, and then uh afterwards uh the police department could have a a reasonable period of time to respond and give its response um or its official response um one or more FPC commissioners uh have uh have indicated that they might prefer that the FPC's recommendation go uh directly to both the common council and the uh police department at the same time uh so this file uh we wanted to bring it to the full board uh for consideration and discussion and also potentially a uh uh a resolution making a recommendation on the last part as to whether or not it should first go to police uh and then the police department have a reasonable period of time to respond or be referred immediately to both the common council and uh um the police department uh it would just be a recommendation the common council is still free to do what it wants with it it could disregard it it could accept it but um uh we wanted to give the commissioners uh an opportunity to weigh in Madam Chair I don't know if there's anything else you wanted to add to that um no um I'm uh it's too bad that commissioner um is not here because she was one of the commissioners who voiced a concern about uh referring it first to the police department um and her fear was that there would be uh a campaign on the part of the police department to um change the minds of the common council but um I personally don't think that's um a big consideration because common council doesn't change their mind just because the police department asked them to um if anything they be may become more um um activated to do what they want to do uh I do think that if the I think it's a wonderful thing to have an ordinance that does require a referral to the fire and police commission because as it is uh you could have the common council taking up anything uh that strikes their fancy and the the body with experience is us the body with public comment is us uh and although we don't have the policy um power that we once had uh we do have the authority of our experience and our uh role as oversight uh so I'm happy to see this ordinance coming forward I the reason why I would like the um recommendation to be reviewed by the police department first is simply because there may have been changes by the commission uh that the department has not had an opportunity to uh analyze and I think that uh you know on the best of all possible world we would all agree on the policy change um but if there is disagreement I think it's good to know what that is uh and to that that uh with the the with the chief of police uh before it goes back to the common council but it can be simultaneously released too it's not it's not critical I think the critical thing is to have this ordinance in the first place.

Madam Chair?

Yes.

Yeah I I agree I the ordinance I think is is good but I also think it's good that that we have an open line of communication with the chief and which would allow that the time frame we're talking about so that again we we can discuss matters and possibly come to resolution as well ahead of time so I would agree with that.

Any other scattering well I would before we go through, um the we have expertise, but the police department does expertise too.

We want to hear their report.

We want to hear what they have to say about any changes that we propose in the community.

They're gonna have to implement it.

And there may be differences in implementation, differences of uh definitions, and that's what we got to decide and discuss and go over with.

So that's why I think 10 days for the response is minimal, but I'm sure can I just got the point of information?

I did want to make sure the commissioners are aware that under current board rules, um, regarding um uh policy changes that does say uh the board may one second.

Um the board may recommend to the fire chief or chief of police that he or she amend or suspend any policy that has been changed, and then it says if a chief in his or her discretion declines to implement the board's recommended policy change, the board may recommend to the common council that it modify or suspend the policy.

So it does imply that it would go to uh the department first and then the um the common council under current order, which is subject to our control.

Yes, yes.

Okay, Commissioner Fung.

Hi, I raised my hand first.

I was just one you are.

I'm sorry, you know, I don't see those little hands.

That's my problem.

So if you raise your real hand, I would see that.

Go ahead.

I'm just wanting to know um Commissioner Burgos said 10 days.

Is it prudent to define what reasonable what the reasonable amount of time is?

And then secondly, who watches who watches the course of this ordinance?

So um, 10 to 15 days was what um I think I had recommended.

Um but ultimately the time frame for the ordinance is up to uh Baldwin Spiker and the rest of the common council.

So I don't know exactly what they will do, and that's why I'm using reasonable amount of time because I I want to be a little, I'm being a little deliberately vague.

Um and then Commissioner, your second question was who watches it.

Could you repeat that?

I I apologize.

Yeah, basically who watches the course of how it's how it moves about to come to the resolution, uh who watches well um, you know.

So I've had some communication with Alderman Spyker to institute to in to start the role ball the ball rolling, so to speak.

The next step, the next step would be after, you know, we've communicated back to public safety committee, uh, for them to put it on the to actually draft the ordinance and put it on put it on their agenda, and then there'd be you know an opportunity for uh both the departments and for the FPC to uh discuss it at committee, and uh so it'll be on the agenda.

You know, it'll be in in the normal course of um the work of the common council to enact ordinances.

I think we it's on us to watch for it.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you so much.

Sure.

Okay, then now we have what order of there's two hands up, right?

Commissioner Fong.

Commissioner Fung, okay.

Please go ahead.

Thank you.

Yeah, sorry, I know the hands are small.

Um, so I I'll be transparent.

Um, I was also one of the commissioners who's just a little bit concerned about um the time frame.

So I first want to acknowledge that this is certainly one of the um the complex negative effects that Act 12 has had on civilian oversight.

Um, I think we're now in a position where uh our relationship to uh the common council and to policy making authority um has sort of become by unfortunate necessity more politicized, and that makes it more difficult to be truly independent.

Um at the same time, I'll note um as Commissioner Burgos did, that the common council absolutely no shade um is are not necessarily the policing experts um that the fire and police commission should be, and then MPD of course should be uh again, they're very busy doing other stuff that's sort of why we should exist.

Um but I will note um so I think you know we saw this recently um where public safety uh declined to support our unanimous recommendation around use of force.

Um I think we should not take it for granted that there is a political machine here, um, and certainly if MPD is doing their job, and I know that they are, they are going around to common council members and supporting their own ideas, which at times, not always, are in conflict with the fire and police commission's recommendations.

That's not a bad thing.

That's that's their job, they're doing their job.

The issue here is that the fire and police commission wasn't previously in a position where we sort of had to lobby for lack of a better term, in this way for our own positions.

Um, and if I may say so, I think that at times um director Todd's positionality would also be difficult for him or for anyone in situations in which the mayor is in disagreement with uh recommendation that the um that the fire and police commission would make.

So that's all to say we don't really have the built-in machinery or built-in positionality in the same way uh that we would need to to be effective to stand up for our recommendations.

Um public safety is something I think not all of us want to do, um, to sort of show up and have to defend our own recommendations.

Um so we're already in kind of a a complex position now.

Um, and so I I am a little bit concerned about giving even more extra time um for the department to state their case, which again they should like that's what I would do.

I would I would be stating my case to common council members.

Like um so I uh I'm I'm a little concerned about that, and I was one of the uh commissioners that um sort of I I fundamentally see the writing on the wall here in terms of um our powers uh and the effectiveness of us being able to make recommendations and then show up to support those recommendations.

Um but I uh like Chair Horowitz share the opinion that um I do think fundamentally that um the ordinance itself or the concept behind the ordinance um and ensuring FPC is involved in this process is certainly a good thing.

Um so that's my long opinion about that and a little bit of a warning.

Um I had a question just procedurally, Director Todd.

When you um when you said that there's an implication that uh we do need to give uh the chief a heads up first, is that that's not in 6250, is that in the rules?

Is that correct?

Yes, that's FPC rule moment.

You see rule four section three.

Okay.

So is it is it your opinion that we currently have no choice but to give the chief a reasonable period of time or some period of time without changing the rules.

That's how I read it.

That um it doesn't state what the time period is, but it's um it says they could you can make a recommendation to the chief, and then if he uh declines to implement the bo or uh implement the board's recommendation, uh the board can recommend uh the change to the common council.

Again, that's the FPC's own rule.

So you could change the rule or or or if you would are interpreting it a different way, uh so be it.

But uh um that that was my impression of of of what the language meant.

Okay.

Uh I guess well, so realistically, if we were to send something simultaneously to the chief and the common council it's not immediately heard at a common council committee though so the chief does have time to decide um whether or not to take that recommendation because things don't immediately go to committee.

That's correct.

Typically um you know it would be somewhere between you know seven days to you know 30 or 40 days um depending on when the legislative cycle starts relative to uh the board's recommendation so uh there would likely be a period uh somewhere within that that time frame okay yeah because I guess in my mind there already is a built-in period of time and certainly um you know I wouldn't necessarily object if say the chief um is considering a part of our recommendation but um as has happened recently needs to wait for an opinion from city attorney um I think it would be pretty reasonable to assume that the chief could then ask um say the chair of public safety if they can hold it over to the next cycle um just to for a reasonable amount of time to get that opinion from city attorney so I guess when I when I read that I it's it's my opinion although I'm not the lawyer here that there sort of already is a built in period of time that is pretty close to 10 days.

Yes.

Yes I would say um in the scheme of things there would be some time delay um and of course uh regardless of the nuance that we're looking at uh the department uh is always present at public safety committee so it's not as though they would not have an opportunity to express their opinion and uh um that's why I'm not that heated up about it one way or the other I guess um commissioner Evans no no I'm I'm in agreement with uh Chair Horry so um I think that um yeah I'm in agreement with you chairs oh commissioner spence yes is there a hand up there my hand was up I just turned it off but I'm an I am in agreement I think more than anything else this gives everybody a chance to tell the public what the process will look like because I think that's where the confusion really lies in that we'll do something common council might sit on on this and it causes angst amongst public who are expecting something to happen within government to create change and rather than point fingers let's be clear about what this process should look like I'm fine with um the recommendation from Chair Horowitz but let's communicate to people what this process will look like so that they're not confused as to who's covering what okay down the road anything the only thing I'm puzzled about is what's my recommendations I was kind of neutral but I was kind of neutral on there being a uh set period of time for for department review versus simultaneous uh to both the department and the uh common council.

Well, and I can tell you what I read into the discussion is that you were fine with the with giving MPD the information the same time that the common council got.

Yeah, that was my understanding.

Um I wasn't I I think that's generally where I was going.

Uh, but then we do need to change our rules.

I just want to make sure I understand.

So is the is the is the uh consensus or the majority is the is the opinion that you would give it to both the department and um the council at the same time, or that it would go first to the department.

I thought I understood, and now I'm sorry.

Yeah, I think I inferred from what you initially said, Chair Horwitz, that we would give it to the chief, we would leave that line of communication open and give him a chance to respond to that so that we could possibly maybe maybe we work things in yeah, whatever we're bringing in the the uh common council is is already agreed upon.

That's what I read into what you said initially.

Okay.

That's what I was thinking too.

And uh that's good.

I'm I am fine with that, and so I think what we need, uh executive director Todd, is a motion stating that.

Um what kind of we have a communication file on this?

Is it a communication file?

I thought it was a resolution.

I'm sorry.

It is a resolution file.

So um what if that's what you would what what one or more commissioners would like, and I I'm just trying to think how I would word this, uh, you could do a motion to recommend uh that any such ordinance give uh the department a reasonable period of time uh to respond before the council uh takes the matter up.

Okay.

Well, we can entertain just a clarifying question.

Oh, sorry.

No, that's okay.

What's your oh I just wanted to clarify.

So is the reasonable amount of time because I guess I'm not uh it's my opinion that generally when this comes up, like let's be realistic.

In most cases, it will be the situation that if the common council had to make a recommendation about something, it probably means that they already went to the chief and he already said no, because those lines of communication are very open.

We know that common council members feel very comfortable talking to the chief.

I think that's a very good thing.

So I think in most cases, the chief would have or the department would have just changed the SOP on their own, um, if they were super willing to take that that verbal recommendation or that verbal change.

So realistically, I think most of the times that this is going to come up, it's going to be sort of like an adversarial or an adverse recommendation that the department is unlikely to want to take.

And so in those cases, I think I just want to be careful that we're not building in an unnecessary amount of time.

Because MPD knows what what folks want, you know, from public comment here or from uh a common council member.

So I'm I'm just not sure why we need to add additional time.

And just very quickly, um, with is that all right?

Sure.

Um, the reason why I was suggesting just a uh a vaguer, you know, reasonable amount of time term is because it's ultimately up to the common council, and you could recommend a specific amount of time, but they might say, no, I don't want to do 30 days, I want to do 10 days or 15 days.

Um, and so I was thinking the amount, the exact amount of time would be left up to the common council.

And I do want to clarify um Commissioner Fong's assertion that the common council shares with us usually ahead of time.

Uh sometimes yes, and sometimes no.

Now we don't have a lot of experience yet in this post-act 12 world, but what I can tell you is as we're navigating all of this together, um, that in some cases we've had robust discussions about policy changes that the council has wanted to make, and in others we have not.

Um, so that is dependent on how the council wants to present it, and there are no guarantees that every single time they do present what they want done ahead of time to us.

Um, and so I I just wanted to clarify the assumption that they always um presented to us first.

That isn't necessarily the case.

Um, it just depends on what the change is and uh honestly which alder is bringing forward the change.

Thank you.

And uh just for the record, that was the chief of staff.

Again, we are talking about future policy changes.

We need to define what you know for with us within the chief's office and us.

Well, we're on the same page.

We are all we always give the the community time to get to give input.

Why don't we give the chief time to give input?

That's what I'm saying.

Again, uh, we need to hear what the chief the chief's reasoning for this and or that and uh our reasoning so that we can be even if we're on the different page, at least we're talking to each other so that we're not you know, and we gotta have time to do that.

That's what I think.

You know, this is what we're gonna do.

This is what we want, Chief, because the community wants it.

How can we work it out?

Does it work?

Well, we'll go with the common council as a last resort.

Um right, I agree with that, but I uh in regard to this process, uh, we would first have a communication file, and the department can present at the communication file, and we can call in experts if we want from policing agencies or you know, best practices or that type of thing.

So intentionally, the 60 days were requested so that we could do two cycles.

We could have a communication file and then a resolution.

Um and it's true the the there's there's a possibility that between the communication file and the resolution there's a change that the department hasn't had a chance to look at.

Uh it's uh kind of theoretical right now because we're not dealing with a specific um uh policy consideration.

Um all things being equal, I do think it's better to um give the department some advanced opportunity in keeping with our rule.

Now that rule was probably enacted before Act 12, is that right?

No, it was shortly after.

Very theoretical at that point.

Oh, okay.

So that was the idea that at least whoever the commission was at that time, which was before some people were in the commission there.

Yes, this would have been in like July of 2023, I think.

Yeah, okay.

Um, so that all being said, I will uh take a motion for um the consideration of whether to include a I would I would put a specific amount of time on there.

The council can also change it if they think it's too long.

Um chair, would you would you mind making the motion in if you want to stick a time frame in there, that's fine, but at least we have something definitive to vote on.

Okay, I have to pass the gamble motion.

Okay, okay.

So I move that um in regard to the um our ordinance that is under consideration, uh, which will require uh the common council to refer policy changes or modifications to the FPC before taking it up through the council mechanisms.

Uh, that once we have a recommendation, we share it with the police department or fire department, uh, and allow them 10 days to respond.

If they respond, if they don't respond at all, it goes to the common council.

Uh the council can have the communication of what the recommendation is right away.

They don't, it's just to give the department a chance to digest the actual recommendations.

So that's my motion.

Do we have a sentence?

I'll second for discussion.

Okay.

So I'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order.

Commissioner Burgos.

Aye.

Commissioner Evans.

Mr.

Acting Chair, just quickly procedurally.

Does anyone have any further questions or comments?

Sorry.

Exact motion.

Thank you, Commissioner Spence.

Any questions or comments?

I'll just make a brief comment.

I'm just planning to abstain because I don't necessarily agree with an additional built-in period of time given that there would already be a guaranteed period of time before anything showed up at committee.

However, um I'm very happy to see uh the common council um's intention for the ordinance and to include the FPC formally in the process.

Thank you.

That's uh good to know.

And thank you.

Just one quick comment that I'll make.

Um, at least we've got something definitive.

And if it doesn't work out, this can be changed.

We'll see how it goes.

If if this passes and we run into a situation where it needs to be utilized, if it doesn't work, we can always look at this uh recommendation again.

Um, discussion.

Well, I'll just say that if it becomes an ordinance, it's not that easy to change it, but um there will be a lot of discussion before an actual ordinances uh taken up by the full council and and uh voted on.

So we're we're kind of at the beginning of the process.

Uh, for the question.

Madam Chair.

Any other yes, go ahead.

Madam Chair.

Uh this is fire chief lip sky.

I apologize for interrupting.

I know this is not uh in the fire department's area, but I it so it is is it my understanding this item uh is not just for the police department, this is also for the fire department.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Okay, okay.

And uh I I was I was uh uh just want to make a note.

I I was a little bit unaware of that because it's not noticed in the fire department portion of the agenda.

Oh well, that was a mis uh nomer for the agenda, but I think the language that we've been talking about has been both fire and police.

It's just that these issues come up with the police department so much more often than uh the fire department, but it it would the ordinance would apply to both departments.

Fair point.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thanks.

Any other discussion?

All right.

We'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order.

Commissioner Burgos.

Aye, Commissioner Evans, Commissioner Fong.

Respectfully abstain, Commissioner uh Spence.

Aye, Commissioner World Patterson.

Aye.

And the acting chair votes aye.

Oh, and I get to vote too.

Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner.

Yes, here Horwitz.

Yes.

Like I vote on it.

You weren't listed here, so you know, okay.

Uh vote, gladly pass the gavel back.

Okay.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

All right.

The next item is item eight, FPC 212557 communication from the Milwaukee Police Department relating to MPD's 2025 community and problem-oriented policing or CPOP review.

Okay, you're on.

Good evening, Commissioners.

Heatherhoff, Chief of Staff Milwaukee Police Department.

I hope you have all had the opportunity to look and review and read uh the 2025 community and problem-oriented policing review.

First, we want to thank this commission and particularly Deputy Director Jay Pusek, uh, for bringing this topic to the forefront of our conversations in some recommendations that the FPC through Jay made to the Milwaukee Police Department on institutionalizing CPOP principles.

When we received that information and recommendations, we said this is really an opportunity for us to take a look and explore the ways that we are institutionalizing and incorporating CPOP into the work that we do.

And so born out of those recommendations from the FPC, we decided to holistically take a look.

What are we doing citywide?

What are we doing at the district level?

What are different programs that we are participating in that all encompass the CPOP principles?

So for the watching public, when I say CPOP, it's different than KPOP.

It's community and problem-oriented policing.

And it's taking a holistic approach at issues identified by data, community organizations, et cetera, that affect the quality of life of an area, or you know, our crimes or um, you know, patterns that um neighborhoods are seeing, and uh the response to that isn't the traditional call for service.

Hey, I've got a robbery here, police come, they investigate, they solve that robbery, and then done.

What it takes a look at is hey, there's a trend of robberies here.

Hey, we're seeing youth are committing these robberies, and then uh when police are involved and when they get involved with the community, they bring a bunch of different things together to try to holistically problem solve those issues.

And we're really proud of the work that we're doing.

Um, so first, before anything, um, true CPOP begins with trust.

And I think we all know that the chief in all of his spaces, what's the most important thing?

It's building trust.

And for us, when we build trust, we then have a community that tells us what these problems are.

Is CPOP reactive to some extent, to a large extent, yes.

Um, because we are reacting to the needs of the community.

We're reacting to the problems they're seeing to the issues that are affecting their daily lives.

Um, and so with that, uh trust is the number one thing to build because until we know the problem, we can't work and identify ways to address the problem.

Uh, with that, we're proud of our community engagement efforts, and those are not CPOP, they're the community piece, um, but we have robust events, activities, uh relationship building being conducted citywide through the districts through our criminal investigation bureaus.

Um, Summer Guardian is a prime example of hey, we're proactively policing in these um areas, but we're also prioritizing that engagement with the community, having conversations, having walk-in talks, and just talking to people and getting out there and um interacting in a way where we're building trust on a daily basis.

Um, so that is the trust building, and most of what we do and the examples that we provide, um, problems are identified, not just through our data and our OMAP and all the things, but through the community through these conversations, um, we get really good information from the community about hey, you know, uh, we're seeing maybe like uh trends of auto thefts or break-ins or or whatever, and that's from our data, but also what the biggest concerns are for the community.

And I will say we do our very best to try to incorporate a model that's not just the law enforcement end.

And I I I want to preview and say we did briefly get an opportunity to review a memo in response to this from the FPC, and and one of the critiques was um that, well, this is good, there's room to grow, and we get that we're always willing to do better.

Um, but it says your responses are law enforcement responses, and to some extent, that's accurate.

That's what we put in the report.

Um, we don't want that to be the case.

We want to be able to uh institutionalize all of the other pieces that are wrapped into CPOP, but we can only speak for ourselves.

And sometimes we've witnessed where we've done certain things and incorporated certain other organizations and other community-based pieces.

But if those organizations aren't strong, if there's turnover there or if they're not committed to those same goals, um, we can't control the outcomes there.

And so when we're taking a look at our CPOP stuff and we're providing you feedback, like here are what here are the things that we did that we can be accountable for, we're really looking at it from the law enforcement lens.

We'd love to be able to find other ways to expand what we do, but ultimately that's what our role is.

Um, so we want to continue this conversation.

We really want an opportunity to digest the recommendations made by the FPC.

We're grateful for the conversation that is being had, um, understanding this is a priority for the fire and police commission, but also understanding it it certainly is indeed a priority for Chief Norman and this administration, this department.

Okay.

Comments, questions.

Are there hands up?

I see hands up this time.

Who would commissioner Fonz.

Yeah, go ahead, please.

Hi, yeah.

Um, thank you so much for um this really robust.

I think this is a fantastic snapshot of um the efforts and foundation that the department has already laid when it comes to community oriented and problem-oriented policing.

Um, I I want to be I want to be careful that my um sort of constructive criticism or my suggestions for next steps and improvement, um, in no take in in no way take away from the fact that I do genuinely believe um that the department has some really good pieces of a foundation here, and that's really exciting for me.

Um, so a couple of those that I'll just mention.

Um, obviously um SOP3 even has Sarah listed in it, um, the Sarah model, which is such a critical foundation, um, of problem-oriented policing.

I think that's really great.

Um, I think I probably mentioned this in a previous FPC meeting, but I was able to attend um the recent in-service um where there's specific training about problem-oriented policing, and I thought that that training was really well done.

Um, that's the kind of training I would like to see more of because problem-oriented policing is so complex.

Um, and then there are certainly um some other um initiatives that have a lot of the key components um of a true POP project.

I think um in earlier discussion today, we talked about how the department's participation in VR FAST um is a really good space to be having um genuine connections with at least some community stakeholders and in particular public health stakeholders, um, that would engender um identification of problems and potential responses.

Um VR FAST is also really um for those who haven't sat in there or for uh the the folks on screen, um there's a lot of data that goes into the presentations that happen there, which I think is a hallmark of problem-oriented policing is just really how much data analysis um is needed to be scanning um in and looking at problems um potential responses um and then assessing those responses.

Um I also want to highlight the and I forgot the name of it, but the bike theft initiative, I believe that was done under Captain Leitsky.

Um I think that's really fantastic work, and then I do think that the department um obviously has gone in really heavy on the community engagement pieces of community uh oriented and problem-oriented policing.

Um, so I uh I I'll echo the sentiment in the memo that um I think what I'm a little bit more focused on in terms of next steps is really seeing the robustness of the problem-oriented policing piece come into play here.

Just a quick note, I guess I I do think when we talk to leadership and officers about community engagement, I think there is certainly a sense that doing like district crime and safety meetings and going to block watches.

Um, that's a really key part of what the department is already engaged with.

Um but I just want to caution, obviously, as you know, City and Fire and Police Commission meetings, there are certainly members of the public who wouldn't show up to a meeting like that, but may show up other places or may not even feel the trust to engage in spaces that police are in right now, and so um obviously there's work to be done there.

Um, but uh to return to um some of what I think are the key next steps for um the department in terms of implementation, um, because I think there is a really strong foundation.

So I think it's sort of like time that we're looking at next steps.

I know there's been some communication with the CCC, uh, the community collaborative commission, who I think can play a really key role in also being a bridge to community and being representatives to community um in in sort of agreeing on a plan for for next steps forward.

Um, but I do want to emphasize that for a department to really successfully implement problem-oriented policing, it really needs to be done at every level of the department.

Um, and I think we're not quite there yet.

Um, I think the foundations are in place.

Um, but one thing that's key is to see um making sure that both on the MPD side and on the FPC side that we're letting department members know what the expectations are when it comes to problem-oriented policing and then rewarding um folks who are engaging in that process and then also sharing what they learn with others.

So I will share um that in conversation with um department members who are uh up for promotion.

I have started asking about problem-oriented policing um more consistently, and I plan to continue to do that because I would like to see um people come with with plans or um with discussion about the initiatives that they or um their district or their team have taken on, and I'd like to hear more about that.

Uh I would also encourage um or I may like to ask for um sort of regular report outs from the department on problem-oriented policing efforts.

Um that could include some discussion of community engagement, but I think we all know that that's the area the department is stronger in.

Um, and then uh I think this is also in the response memo, but I know that came out pretty recently.

Um, but I think that the paperwork or the documentation pieces of this are key.

Uh, in watching presentations of these amazing award-winning um problem-oriented policing projects, it's so clear that there's so much data.

The crime analysts play a really key role.

Um, it's it's clear that all of the steps of Sarah are being documented.

Um, it's clear that officers considered certain like considered sort of a whole body of responses and then figured out which ones made the most sense to try, and then tried those and then assessed whether that response was effective.

Like it's a really scientific process.

And so I think um those are the pieces like the documentation that I'd like to um hear more about uh moving forward.

And then um I'll just echo I I do think it would be uh, and and i don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but I do think it would be great for the department to um invest in some folks attending the problem-oriented policing um conference.

Uh hopefully down the line, going for one of those really great awards, um, and then also considering um hiring an outside expert to um just to evaluate sort of this great snapshot of where the department is at and then thinking more concretely about implementation steps i think as we all know sometimes um certainly in you know we all have our own blinders on we all have our own tunnel vision from doing the day to day work and so sometimes it can be really helpful to have an external expert um who is especially who's an expert in implementation science a field that I didn't even know about but which is really cool um come and speak with the department so that's my TED talk on problem oriented policing but uh thank you again for for putting together um this snapshot uh I think this is a really great first step so I I truly appreciate it.

Thank you and and just a couple of things.

Yeah absolutely we're willing um to grow and and think uh outside the box of ways we can do more we have to balance that with you know challenges with outside agencies being involved like the CCC oftentimes doesn't meet quorum and so while we'd love to engage the CCC more in what we do and we've attempted to engage more in what we do uh we're limited by what the community wants to commit to as well and that's out of our control.

Another thing I I just want to say is as we're continuing to do the problem oriented policing work we do still have to balance that with traditional response to you know to issues that arise in the community um calls for service so the reality of what we do is yes we can do uh comedian problem oriented policing and we can continue to grow and be more robust but we're also limited by the fact that on a daily basis we're responding to thousands of calls for service um that are reactionary and that it have to be addressed uh with the people that make those calls so um not to dismiss any of the input of commissioner phung um on ways we can grow and we'll continue that conversation but I just want to get on the record a couple of our biggest challenges uh we can't control other agencies or organizations and we also um do our work with with the other work that has to be done as well.

Good question.

Oh you said the community outreach and engage engagement manager that's who's responsible for this who is it we still maritza Ugarthe um she is out right now on FMLA um but she uh she will be back in a few weeks and she's already done a great job and she hit the ground running so she's engaging communities that we are not traditionally engaged with um you know the chief really wants to grow in uh in in spaces and in cultures we don't historically hit so uh we have robust Asian communities in the city of Milwaukee that we're not engaged with and so she's working with patrol on strategies to build and grow those relationships um we're also trying to conduct um there's a Burmese population on the South side refugees and how do we integrate there talk about some particular scams uh that are targeting um these populations and educate um and build those connections with the police so when they have crime and quality of life issues they are trusting enough to call us and we can address those so uh that being said we're really excited that she's with us sorry it is a loss for the FPC um but she's wonderful okay uh commissioner evans no expensive uh commissioner Will Patterson.

Commissioner Spence had his hand up.

I did not.

Oh, okay I need that's okay.

I need a better glasses again.

Okay, Commissioner Spence.

That's quite a that's quite all right here.

Um for chief of staff huh.

Um when you start prioritizing need to move the needle in key areas, what's the one thing that you would prioritize?

Is it more folks who are doing outreach?

Or is it some other area?

Because I I don't think that you can um try to improve on all at once.

You have to you have to ask yourself what's the what's the most important thing we need to begin to move the needle?

So honestly, yeah, somebody to actually track what we're doing because I will tell you um really when I think about it, like all of the districts, right?

Here's an example.

We have safe and sound integrated within every one of our districts except one, I believe, district six, and there are representatives there who bring to us information they receive from the community, we have problems they're facing and whatever um the issue might be, and we also then work with our data analysts to say, okay, what's really going on in these neighborhoods?

Show us the the crime, show us you know um information about the suspects, are they uh juveniles, are they repeat offenders?

And so we take a look at that, we couple it with safe and sound, we meet weekly with them and DNS to say are there building code violations uh at these properties where there are issues and all the different things, and then we work together to build like um different strategies involving all these agencies on how to you know address these issues for a neighborhood, and then every week they stay on task and they go over the issues that were identified, and each of those agencies gives an update like oh we did this or that, um, and then safe and sound is generally tasked with taking that information back to the community.

That's one example of great community and problem-oriented policing that is real and we do all the time.

The problem is we don't have somebody at the district with the admin function of quantifying all of these touch points that everybody at the district is doing.

So if I could say, is there what can we do to move the needle?

It's how do we track all of the really robust things that we're doing?

Because really, this report was me just in this mind like reaching out to the districts to say, hey, give me what you've got.

And there's way more that people just kind of don't remember, don't recall, and so I I think that is a way to move the needle because there are things that we're doing that people just forget about or or don't realize is what this is, and and it actually is.

You know, another example is the sentinel review.

So a couple years back, we identified issues with our response to domestic violence victims, and the department got together and said, Okay, like this is we've got issues, but there are systematic issues.

Let's get all of these partners together.

Let's work with and the medical college and and identify the gaps and and make recommendations for filling those gaps so uh we can improve the quality of service we're providing to this community.

That's an example of problem-oriented policing.

There's real problem with service model, um, and we did all of the work to identify gaps and make recommendations on how to improve the process, but we don't quantify all of that.

So just off the cuff, and not to say that there's not other places where what is a gap.

I I think another place and we're actually exploring is our evaluation process.

So individual evals, um, how do we make a component for measuring?

Are you engaging in in this type of skill set?

Are you doing these things?

Even when you're responding for calls for service, is there ways to incorporate other elements, other resources in that response?

Um, so that is something we have been working on for a while and the FPC has been aware um and making that a measure of performance.

And that way you can start to quantify what we're doing on the individual level.

And so those are just a couple of things that I'm thinking about.

But obviously I'm gonna give you a way better response which I once I've given this more thought and digested the memo from the FPC.

Yeah.

That would be really useful because I think if it's a question of resource allocation to better understand where we're where we're at and where we need to go I'm sure that there's a way to sit down and figure out how to do that.

And I know it's a bit frustrating to do a multitude of things but not see how they all fold together to make a difference.

Because I get frustrated with that as well.

For me it's not just about doing a bunch of things.

It's about doing a bunch of things that we can quantify in a way that tells us that those things are making a difference.

So I I look forward to further discussion on that and not putting you on the spot here but I think that that's the right discussion to have to move this forward.

So thank you.

Madam Chair could I follow up on that?

Sure.

Thank you.

Um I I actually think that's maybe I'll just put I can just do this.

It's okay.

No, Commissioner Spence I appreciated that question and chief of staff Huff I think you actually um you've identified something um I think really important here and I know you know being asked questions off the cuff is you don't always know the full picture but um I think you've identified something really important which is that um there really isn't a functionality for sort of the the tracking and bringing together um of of these efforts one thing that's really cool about Prop is that you're sort sort of supposed to put together a body of work that worked in your particular location in your particular problem with your particular quote unquote offenders at that particular place.

But that work is also some of the efforts can be potentially replicable in other places.

So that's why we see um the Center for Problem oriented policing at Arizona State University houses all of these problem oriented policing guides unlike common problems that many jurisdictions share you can take a look at them they have one for not everything but almost everything and so yeah no I've seen that um and so I think um getting MPD to a place where you can also like create your own guides um would be a really fantastic thing.

I think I think that's something that you've identified um I know that in conversations okay gonna ruin all my street cred here um but I just as a reminder for folks problem oriented policing was um invented by Herman Goldstein and the sort of heir to the throne of problem oriented policing um is a man named Mike Scott who's at ASU um and in conversations with him um he echoed this which is that um to implement problem oriented policing effectively um at a department having a centralized unit um that then is connected to say all the CPUs is really the most effective way to do it um so I know no one can snap their fingers and make a whole new thing um but I think that I just wanted to echo what you've identified here, which is I do agree that it's really important to sort of create the structures for um for for tracking all of the work that you're doing, and so that the work and the people doing the work can sort of talk to each other um in in the lane of problem-oriented policing.

So thank you for that.

Um, so I just want to start off by uh thanking you, Chief of Staff Huff, for putting this report together.

It's comprehensive, it's uh a good piece of work, and uh I know you put a lot of work into it and are proud of it, and you should be.

Uh so thank you for this.

It's uh um again, a very good piece of work.

And it also, you know, I've I've put little tabs on this because I'm gonna have some follow-up questions because there's some stuff I'm uh interested in.

Like there's I'd like to know more about the focus deterrent effort and uh or deterrence efforts and uh and a number of other things.

Um the other thing I want to acknowledge is just the the breadth and scope of all the things that that MPD is doing, uh, in addition to um, you know, calls for service and the community oriented aspect, um, which is a lot and is somewhat in here as well, uh, and along with uh the problem-oriented policing efforts, and there's a lot of examples from VR FAST to um uh efforts to reduce nuisance properties and uh improve things by um crime prevention through environmental design or SEPTED, and and there's a lot of that in here, and I think that this is very helpful in documenting everything that that you guys are doing, and it is a impressive scope of of work and effort.

Uh, and I want to just uh uh just put a different frame on uh on the reply memo uh for you.

I know you had said that uh there were some critiques in there.

I I don't really view them as critiques, they're recommendations.

Um, and I I do I want a level set and uh I can appreciate how there it might be uh mildly annoying to say to put it uh to say uh at a minimum that uh you put all this work in this and uh there's all these different programs that you're doing, and then I uh or FPC staff comes back and is pushing you a little bit more, and I'm just pushing you a little bit more.

And I I fully recognize that um that is part of our job though, uh to push you a little bit even when you're doing well, and uh I do but again uh want those to be taken uh not as criticisms but but recommendations and uh and suggestions for improvement and and also I recognize the context that you are doing a lot.

We are asking you to do a little bit more.

Um I get that that's annoying, um uh, but it does come from a good place, and and I I appreciate that the things that we're asking are not easy, uh, especially on top of everything you're already doing.

And I I do uh appreciate that you can't do them overnight.

Uh and so it's a process.

Uh, I want to have more conversations about this, and I appreciate your willingness to have those additional conversations and for all your work in this.

And thank you for that.

And I want to say um that I am not taking this personally, it is for our membership, and I know that they have a really heavy lift every day.

And so when I come up here and say, come on, they're doing all these things, it is a representation of each individual officer.

That's that's you know, this document it doesn't reflect what they're doing every single day.

So um thank you for that, and we will continue to work together on um additional CPOP uh into the work that we do.

And this isn't the end of this conversation because this is truly a priority for the Milwaukee police department.

Thank you.

Any other questions, discussion?

Okay, thank you very much.

Being a communication file, director, please proceed with the agenda.

Right.

The next item on the agenda is item nine, FPC 212558 communication from the Milwaukee Police Department relating to recent changes to MPD standard operating procedures and or standard operating instructions.

Uh, we have changes to four policies, SOP 080, Medic Family Medical Leave Act and other leaves, uh 150 court procedures, 200 project management and 267 budget and finance.

Chief Staff Heatherhoff standing in for assistant chief Craig Star now this evening on the SOP changes.

I'll try to go over these pretty quick.

So the Family Medical Leave Act and uh other leaves, we're removing reference to maternity and child rearing leave since this was removed from the MPA contract.

We're cleaning up language uh to how blocks of FMLA time, including sick time can be used so it's clear.

Adding paid parental leave can now be used by members of the MPA since it is now included in their recent contract.

Updating how the fifth regular off day can be utilized by members on FMLA.

If a sworn member is in a five day on, two-day off, four-day on two-day off schedule, adding members taking paid paternal leave must also provide an absence analyst can calendar.

Updating how members on FMLA shall handle subpoenas and report their unavailability to attend uh to a supervisor, the supervisors' requirements were added to SOP 150, as this was more appropriate section for this responsibility.

Removed a reference to members on FMLA or medical leave of absence over 90 consecutive days to submit to a drug screen and updated the payroll codes for prior year vacation time and sick leave instead of pay.

That was the longest one.

Um so we have court procedures, SOP 150.

We added a requirement that's supervisors that receive a subpoena for a member on FMLA sick leave vacation and or extended leave that prohibits them from honoring their subpoena, uh, to note that information on the court case adjournment request form and added additional requirements for virtual intakes for prisoners under a hospital guard.

For SOP 200 project management, the only recommended update or the only update is removing the section related to grant alternative funding requests and moving it to SOP 267 budget and finance, which is the more appropriate SOP for this language, and then finally the SOP 267.

We added that grant language from the other SOP to the budget and finance SOP.

Happy to answer any questions.

Um question one question the five budget and finance.

It said the twenty two hundred twenty thousand dollars was just accepted on the grants, and then two fifteen above had to be a resolution.

Is that from the city law, city ordinance?

Yes, those numbers, yes, my question is um who's doing all this review and changing.

Is it um in the um in the hands of uh the uh assistant chief starno or it's a no so the it's on a regular schedule to review and update um different SOPs?

Um, and also, you know, when we have CBA changes or you know, contract changes and things like that, that automatically changes a bunch of SOPs.

Uh actually it's our OMAP team that is stays on top of all of our SOPs, um, and then updates and sends them out to the appropriate people to get input.

So, you know, we have some we send to MADAC and say, Hey, can you take a look at this policy on a regular basis and offer any improvements and other agencies?

Um, so even we have CPOP even in our policy review because actually we do, you know, elicit the advice and input from a number of different outside agencies as we are making policy updates on a regular basis.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions?

Uh, and um commissioner phone.

Uh just a clarifying question, um, Chief of Staff Huff.

Is the uh with regards to the removal of the maternity leave or child rearing leave, which I understand is just a reflection um of a uh contract change or CBA change.

Do you know if they removed those entirely or if they're called paid parental leave or fall under some other category now they're they're uh called something different because it includes paternal and maternal leave so I um will look to the language here um it's parental leave okay wonderful thank you um and then um if you could also just um I I guess I became aware recently that even though sometimes I feel like the room is empty there are folks that watch on city channel 25 or watch later um so trying to be cognizant of that and and including definitions could you just um explain really briefly um sort of what asset forfeiture means um for folks yeah uh so a little preview actually tune in next FPC meeting when we are tentatively scheduled to do our asset forfeiture presentation that we do every year um to the FPC after it's presented to the common council.

Asset forfeiture is a federal program um that jurisdictions are in you know um receive so if we have cases then we have a lot of very big high end um drug or gun cases and we seize assets monetary assets in those cases with other jurisdictions we get a portion of those assets back um asset forfeiture is a program it's run by the uh federal government there are strict rules for the use of those funds um it can only be directed by the police department um and the um there's like different things you can and can't use it for um so I think you I'm not sure they're gonna go over all that next week but um that is what asset forfeiture is it's uh monies C's through um drug and gun um cases uh that have made its way through the entire court process so it's not just a seizure and then the jurisdictions get it it actually has to make its way through the entire court process and be concluded um and that's when those funds are distributed.

Okay thank you and and it's my understanding that um sort of if if multiple law enforcement entities are involved in something that we get a portion is that correct correct and then and those funds are approved you mentioned the funds are approved the use of the funds is approved by the common council um well the it's weird so the common council cannot by the laws of asset forfeiture direct us how to spend the money but we have to ask their permission to receive the buddies so um we present to them all of the ways we've identified um spending the asset forfeiture dollars and it changes every year it fluctuates some years it's nothing some years it's significant um and then they either approve or object to allowing us to accept the funding so they can't tell us how to spend it but they can tell us we can't have it it's weird Craig and Laura will be here next time to go over the entire asset forfeiture process.

Okay thank you.

Any other questions comments okay another communication file.

The rector please proceed with the agenda.

I'll now read the items under the department of emergency communications starting with item 10 FPC 212559 resolution relating to the promotion of Victoria Skelton to the emergency communications officer to position and uh just a quick note that this promotion is retroactive.

I don't know the don't move the date off the top of my head but the date of the promotions to echo two at the last meeting um because she was uh that they'll be omitted from uh the last round of promotions.

Yeah i i see the department's letter in the file it says uh May 24th 2026 and that it was an oversight that she was not included in this set of promotions so um unless there's some discussion yes and moved to approved okay i think we second that okay all right uh any discussion as this is a promotion i'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order commissioner burgos aye commissioner evans aye commissioner fong aye commissioner snyder aye commissioner spence aye commissioner world patterson aye and the chair votes aye motion carries the rector please proceed with the agenda item 11 fpc 212560 resolution relating to the extension of a probationary period for an emergency communication officer two okay uh once again there's a letter from the department um and um there's just a request for a two month um extension due to uh time off duty so this is to uh allow the department to have the proper amount of time observing the employee uh at work um any questions i'll take a motion you moving around approved yes second okay thanks um then i will take a voice vote on this matter all in favor please signify by saying aye aye any opposed any abstentions motion carries director please proceed with the agenda i'll now read the items under the fire department starting with item 12 fpc 212561 resolution relating to the promotion of battalion chief jeremy starr to the deputy fire chief position okay this is the fun part the board met earlier this evening in closed session to consider this item and interview chief star do any of the commissioners have any additional comments in regard to this item um and I know that uh chief lip sky is supporting the promotion after all he decided it and made the made the recommendation I'll take a roll call vote what madam chair I move for approval okay second second okay I'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order commissioner burgos aye commissioner evans aye commissioner fong aye commissioner schneider aye commissioner spence aye commissioner world patterson aye and the chair votes aye motion carries congratulations to our new okay director please proceed with the agenda this is the fun part uh the next or the next item is item 13 FPC 212562 resolution relating to the promotion of fire captain Kristen Hep to the battalion fire chief position so uh again the board met earlier this evening in closed session to interview Captain Heff and uh um it was quite a good interview I would say do any commissioners have any additional comments or questions chief lip ski do you care to make a comment regarding this promotion yeah I absolutely do uh first I'd like to congratulate deputy chief uh Jerry Starr who you just approved uh beyond exceptional decorated uh veteran combat experience marine corps veteran uh and he has really taken the lead with ensuring our uh new recruits and uh newly hired firefighters all the way on up through our company officers and chief officers are being developed in a very proper fashion.

Now that's not what you asked me let me.

I should have asked you that earlier.

I'm sorry, I just shoehorned in, but let me okay.

Uh let me speak briefly about uh what I hope uh who I hope to refer to as battalion chief Kristen Hepier very shortly.

Uh she is uh has been an incredible asset to this fire department.

I have to tell one brief story.

Uh please please entertain me.

Um we pulled a severely burned firefighter off the second floor of a house on South Eighth Street on April 14th, 2024, uh after he was trapped up there after being severely burned in a rescue attempt.

He's trapped for 12 minutes, and when he was brought down, uh it can be very difficult to corral firefighters in that moment.

She was the paramedical officer on the paramedic unit waiting on the sidewalk as he was carried down the ladder.

She prevented a tremendous amount of increased injury through her very deliberate and thoughtful and pre-planned actions for how to deal with a trapped burned firefighter, which believe it or not is not something we deal with all the time.

Thank goodness.

Uh she was able to because she is respected and because she is a known operator with a calm, cool, collected head, uh redirect the whole thing and change the course of events.

That firefighter's back and in uh uh full service as a firefighter now.

Uh partly due to her actions.

Uh, I have worked around and with Captain Hep for a very, very long time.

I am hopeful that you agree, uh, as represented by your vote that she is equipped uh not just to begin doing the job of a battalion chief, but to thrive as a battalion chief.

I am so excited for both these promotions, all the promotions.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I move for approval, second.

Okay, great.

Any discussion?

I'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order.

Commissioner Burgos.

Aye.

Commissioner Evan.

Aye.

Commissioner Fong.

Aye.

Commissioner Schneider.

Aye.

Commissioner Spence.

Aye.

Commissioner World Patterson.

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries congratulation to battalion chief.

Okay.

Director, please proceed.

Next item is item 14, FPC 212563 resolution relating to the promotion of Patrick Hensel to the fire captain position.

Chief Lipske, would you care to comment about this promotion?

If you're giving me a microphone, yes, I would love to.

I will say uh that uh this is this is a proud longtime member, uh, hired in 2009, worked his way up very steadily through the ranks, and uh he think most people in the field would regard him also as a steady hand.

He doesn't get overly worked up about things that you know average person would consider small, uh, but he is sharp enough and smart enough and has the education enough to delineate between what is small and what needs real real attention.

Extremely happy uh that he scored high enough to be promoted.

Thank you.

Very good.

Uh, do any of the commissioners have any questions, comments?

Uh is there a motion?

So move.

Second.

Um I'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order, Commissioner Burgos.

Aye, Commissioner Evans, aye.

Commissioner Fong.

Aye.

Commissioner Snyder.

Aye.

Commissioner Spence.

Aye.

Commissioner World Patterson.

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries congratulations to director, please proceed.

I will now read the items under the police department starting with item 15, FPC 212564.

Resolution relating to the promotion of Inspector Paul Lau to the assistant chief of police position.

The board met earlier this evening in closed session and interviewed Inspector Lao.

And obtained a lot of good comments and background information.

Do any of the commissioners have any further comments or questions?

Is there a motion on this matter?

So, okay, we've got several motions and seconds.

I'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order, Commissioner Burgos.

Aye.

Commissioner Evans.

Aye.

Commissioner Fung.

Aye.

Commissioner Snyder.

Aye.

Commissioner Spence.

Okay.

You fade out sometimes, but that was an aye.

I know.

Commissioner.

Aye.

Yes.

Yeah.

Okay.

Commissioner World Patterson.

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries.

Congratulations.

Okay.

I like these.

Yes.

Please proceed.

Item 16, FPC 212565.

Resolution relating to the promotions of Captains Liam Looney, James Hutchinson, and Andrew Tisher to the inspector of police position.

These uh candidates were also interviewed in closed session uh today.

Uh do any of the commissioners have any additional comments or questions?

Is there a motion?

So moved.

Second.

Very good.

Any discussion?

I'll take a roll call vote and order of in alphabetical order.

Commissioner Burgos.

Aye.

Commissioner Evans.

Aye.

Commissioner Fung.

Aye.

Commissioner Snyder.

Aye.

Commissioner Spence.

Aye.

Commissioner World Patterson.

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries.

Congratulations.

Okay.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

Item 17, FPC 212566.

Resolution relating to the promotions of lieutenants Jasmine Arce, Benjamin Kenneth, and Eileen Ross to the Captain of Police position.

These promotional candidates were also interviewed in closed session earlier today.

And we uh found some very uh supportive comments from uh that interview.

Do any of the commissioners have any additional comments or questions?

I'll take a motion.

So move.

Second, any discussion?

I'll take a roll call vote in alphabetical order.

Commissioner Burgos.

Aye.

Commissioner Evans?

Aye.

Commissioner Fung.

Aye.

Commissioner Snyder.

Aye.

Commissioner Spence.

Aye.

Commissioner World Patterson.

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries.

Congratulations.

Okay.

Director, please proceed with the agenda.

Item 18, FPC 212567.

Resolution relating to the promotion without examination of April Muandu to the police human resources administrator position.

Do any of the commissioners have any questions or comments?

Is this uh something that we can get a little more info from the department?

Is anybody here?

Oh, thank you.

I think she would she would normally be the one giving the information, but we'll have to defer to uh staff of the house.

Giving the on this promotion, um, but uh the department is recommending April take the position of human resources director upon Pam Roberts' retirement.

We are confident uh that April will do an outstanding job in this role.

She's worked for the department for many years, tirelessly, and is a consummate professional.

So we're very excited uh to bring her forward to this body uh for promotion.

We look forward to uh the work that she'll do in this role.

Thank you.

Um is there a motion on this?

So move second any discussion.

I will take a roll call vote, Commissioner Burgos, Commissioner Evans, aye, Fung, aye, Commissioner Schneider, Commissioner Spence, aye.

Commissioner World Patterson, aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries, congratulations.

Okay, director, please proceed with the agenda.

Item 19, FPC 212568, resolution relating to the promotion without examination of Sean Ku Mays to the media producer position.

Okay, I didn't even know you had a media producer.

Tell me about so uh we have media producers who do a number of different things.

This position is going to focus on reels on social media, getting us and integrating us into the TikTok world, all of the new ways that people get their information.

It's for public service announcements, it's for information about department, it's for recruitment efforts, and so it will really supplement the FPC's work.

Sean Ku has been working for us uh for some time as a PSSI, he's a former um uh forensics investigator, um, but he does he's just a creative genius, does an outstanding job uh at photography and film, and so we're very excited to uh bring him forward for this promotion.

Very good.

I'm glad you had somebody with the uh with the talent and the know-how to do these things.

Yes.

Uh do any commissioners have any questions?

Is there any chair?

Just to yes, go ahead.

Yeah, Madam Chair, just a quick comment.

I I did see um a um a uh news snippet on this individual, and I was wondering if his huff could speak to that.

Sure.

So uh he did a couple of recent reels on social media about our street takeovers, actually us towing uh and seizing some cars that have gone viral um in the world of social media.

So uh WISN reporter reached out and said, hey, can we talk to the person who's created this content?

It so happens to be Sean Ku.

Um, anticipating this promotion.

And so uh he was interviewed by uh WSN.

Actually, this Saturday morning, Sean Ku and I have been asked to do Fox 6 Live to talk about social media because his content is going pretty viral.

So that's this Saturday.

Yes, okay, um, great.

Um that's the kind of viral relay.

Yes, yes, thank you.

I'll take a motion.

So move.

Second, and uh, we got to do it in roll call.

Commissioner Burgos, aye, commissioner Evans, aye, commissioner Fung.

Aye, Commissioner Snyder.

Aye, Commissioner Spence.

Aye.

Commissioner Royal Patterson.

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries.

Congratulations to Director.

Please proceed.

Item 20, FPC 212569.

Resolution relating to the promotion of Amber Anderson to the HVAC maintenance technician three position.

Okay.

Um there's a letter in the file.

Was this promotion from a um eligible list?

I believe it's likely um a promotion.

Well, let me just pull up the letter, unless uh chief of staff off knows.

This from an eligible list as I get my cues from our human resources director.

Thank you.

Are there any questions, comments?

I'll take a uh motion.

So move.

Second.

I take a roll call vote.

Uh Commissioner Burgos.

Aye.

Commissioner Evans.

Aye.

Commissioner Fung.

Aye.

Commissioner Snyder.

Aye.

Commissioner Spence.

Aye.

Commissioner World Patterson.

Aye.

And the chair votes aye.

Motion carries.

Once again, congratulations.

Oh, sure, sure.

So uh before we conclude, um Chief Norman will be celebrating with all of our motees on Monday.

Um, but the department wants to congratulate all of our assistant chief inspector and captains.

Um we are very excited to have them as leaders of this department, and we look forward uh to the work that they will bring.

Um we know they're outstanding um individuals, excellent leaders, and um just excited to have them uh join a different rank um and more leadership responsibilities.

So congrats to them, thank you.

Uh and again, Chief Norman will be celebrating with them on Monday.

Okay, and uh swearing amend.

Yes, yeah, okay.

Um director, please proceed with the agenda.

Yes, the last item on the agenda is item 21, FPC 212570 resolution relating to the reappointment request of a former recruit officer, and there is a letter uh uh in the file uh from Chief Norman uh regarding this matter.

The chief is recommending uh this reappointment to the next academy class, which would start August 3rd.

Uh thank you, yes.

Uh and there's also a letter from the uh recruit uh explaining that he um wasn't able to uh complete the the academy previously because of a physical uh problem and he's ready to go now.

So um any questions?

Is there a motion?

Move for approval second and I'll take a roll call vote.

We're doing a lot of those.

Yeah, I guess can't we do it?

Or uh it's not it's not a rank.

Okay, let's do a voice.

All in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye, any opposed, any abstentions, motion carries, director.

Please proceed with the agenda.

And that concludes the agenda, madam chair.

That favorite motion motion to adjourn.

So second.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

We stand adjourned.