Fire and Police Commission Regular Session – July 2, 2026

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC) held its regular meeting on July 2, 2026, at 4:36 PM in City Hall, Room 301-B. All nine commissioners were present. The meeting included extensive public comment, approval of routine personnel and administrative actions, reports on community engagement and physical readiness testing, and a new standard operating instruction for school resource officers. Closed session was held to consider personnel matters. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.

Consent Calendar

• FPC212596 – Resolution approving the June 18, 2026, meeting minutes. Adopted by general consent.
• FPC212597 – Appointment to Forensic Identification Processor position within MPD. Adopted by general consent.
• FPC212598 – Appointment to Intelligence Analyst position within MPD. Adopted by general consent.
• FPC212599 – Job announcement bulletin for Business Maintenance Supervisor (MPD). Adopted by general consent.
• FPC212600 – Job announcement bulletin for HVAC Maintenance Technician (MPD). Adopted by general consent.
• FPC212601 – Job announcement bulletin for Human Resources Supervisor (MPD). Adopted by general consent.
• FPC212602 – Eligible list for Management Accountant Senior within Department of Emergency Communications (DEC). Adopted by general consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

Twenty speakers addressed the commission, most concerning the Milwaukee Police Department’s collaboration with Lockheed Martin and its subsidiary Derco Aerospace. Key points:

• Heba Mohammad (Milwaukee for Palestine) presented a FOIA request showing 167 pages of email exchanges (over 130 emails in one year) between MPD and Lockheed Martin. She stated that MPD initiated 42% of the emails, shared information about activists, and did not question Lockheed Martin’s intelligence gathering, which misidentified an unaffiliated person. She demanded an investigation into gifts, donations, and bribes; a ban on deadly exchanges (training with foreign governments, especially Israel); and limits on political surveillance.
• Ihsan Atta (business owner, taxpayer) argued that MPD and the Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center are functioning as a private intelligence service for Lockheed Martin, weaponizing public resources. He called for a full independent investigation, total public disclosure of records, and a ban on police participation in surveillance for private corporations.
• Galen Michel (Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement) expressed outrage and reiterated demands for a ban on deadly exchanges.
• Kaye Lafond (journalist) who conducted the records request described fear after interviewing police, who told her they do not question others’ intelligence gathering. She urged the commission to choose people over corporations.
• Elleiri Extence (Kilborne Town resident) noted that MPD offered advice to Derco on how to press trespass charges against protesters, calling it a betrayal of neutrality.
• Kaelyn Arlt (Code Pink, Milwaukee) pointed out that MPD protects Derco, which maintains fighter jets used in Gaza, while protesters are surveilled. She demanded investigations into gifts and information sharing.
• Ashley Doelger stated that peaceful protesters are being stalked while Derco profits from war crimes, and called MPD complicit.
• Tiffany Stark (social worker, community activist) shared her own experience of being profiled and placed on an FBI target list in 2021. She discussed the upcoming July 14 Common Council vote on vehicle pursuit policy recommendations, urging commissioners to contact alders and draft a summary letter linking FPC meetings to reports. She also thanked Commissioner Bree Spencer for her service.
• Jennifer Vollsteat (Milwaukee for Palestine) raised concerns about license plate reader data shared by Lockheed Martin with MPD, and about Chief Norman’s training trip to Israel. She requested a FOIA request for records from February 2025 to present.
• Rosella (resident, taxpayer) expressed concern over the amount of intelligence collected on regular people exercising legal protest rights.
• Stephanie highlighted that FPC is the only institutional force protecting residents from surveillance harm, and asked that meeting times be moved from 4:30 PM to allow more public participation.
• Ned Littlefield (6th Aldermanic District resident) described the December 7, 2025 protest at Derco, noting the disproportionate police presence at Derco property versus on the street. He questioned the allocation of resources and asked whether the commission would enforce the city ordinance requiring ICE agents to not wear masks during detentions.
• Andrew G. criticized the commission for failing to suspend the Flock ALPR system after documented misuse by an officer, and argued that police cannot be reformed.
• Shana G. (citizen) shared that her father, a researcher of assassinations, was surveilled until his death. She called for firing the Fraternal Order of Police if they oppose the commission’s oversight, and urged the commission to find a security partner that aligns with public safety.
• Julie Hueller Curcio (virtually) agreed with previous speakers, noted that multiple international organizations have recognized Israel’s actions as genocide, and asked the commission to compel the chair to put the chief’s training trip on a future agenda for detailed discussion.
• Carlos Dixon questioned who shapes decisions in Milwaukee, citing the mayor’s delegation to Jerusalem, the chief’s IDF training, and foundation grants that support Israel. He urged the commission to track influence, not just identity.
• Maya Lorenz (first-time attendee) stated that MPD has allowed itself to be purchased by Lockheed Martin, and raised concerns about facial recognition technology being weaponized against activists. She called for the relationship to be severed and investigated.
• Ben Slowey (local reporter, concerned citizen) described the Defense Industry Conference (DIBCon) in Milwaukee, where war profiteers discussed profits. He noted that the U.S. spends $900 billion per day on the war in Iran, which could fund 87,000 houses or 400,000 nurses’ salaries. He called the MPD-Derco collusion a betrayal.
• Valeria Taylor (attorney, citizen) raised a neighborhood issue: a basketball hoop in the alley behind her home causing damage to her new fence. She asked the commission and MPD to enforce the ordinance against playing ball in alleys and to conduct a general notification before enforcement.

Discussion Items

10. PLECET National Conference Debrief – Community Outreach Coordinator Carlos Martinez Rivera presented lessons from the 2026 Professionalizing Law Enforcement-Community Engagement Training (PLECET) conference. Key themes: declining public trust, the “Five Ps” framework (Purpose, People, Place, Program, Promotion), involving community partners early, and using AI to support (not replace) engagement. He recommended adopting the Five Ps, identifying community champions, exploring multilingual platforms, and using the Council of Criminal Justice AI decision framework. Commissioners supported the framework and asked about integrating MPD, MFD, and DEC; creating a shared vision; and preparing accessible materials for alders on vehicle pursuit policy. The communication was placed on file.

11. Physical Readiness Test (PRT) Update – Executive Director Leon Todd reported that the request for a waiver from LESB standards was denied. As an alternative, for the July 11-12 PRT, candidates who do not pass every event but achieve a “contingent passing score” on a three-point scale will be allowed to move forward in the hiring process conditionally. They must attend at least two MPD fit camps and pass the PRT before or on the first day of the academy. Commissioners praised the creative approach; the communication was placed on file.

12. HR and Business Operations Follow-Up Report – Andrea Knickerbacker (Employee Relations) presented three recommendations: increasing the pay range for a Fire Department Business Finance Manager and for two DEC positions to stay in lockstep with the HR Analyst Senior classification. The resolution was adopted unanimously (9-0).

13. MPD Standard Operating Procedures/School Resource Officer SOI – Assistant Chief Sarno presented a new SOI for the SRO program, required by CALEA accreditation. The SOI is based on the MOU with MPS and the SRO posting. Key points: SROs are not to enforce school disciplinary policies, are to be familiar with MPS codes, and have duties including law enforcement and community referrals. Commissioners asked about data on seclusion/restraint, Miranda rights, strip searching, confiscation of items, and the impact of not assigning officers to specific schools. A fall update presentation was requested. The communication was placed on file.

14. DEC Probation Extensions – Two extensions for Emergency Communications Officer II. Adopted unanimously.

15. Promotion to Court Liaison Officer – Held for closed session interview. After closed session, the promotion was approved unanimously (9-0).

16. Promotions to Crime Analyst II (2) – Approved unanimously (9-0).

17. Appointments to Police Aide (17) – Approved unanimously.

18. Reappointment of Former Police Officer – The chief requested a waiver of Rule 13, Section 1 (requiring former members to have passed probation). The waiver and reappointment were approved unanimously (9-0).

19. Probation Extensions for Police Officer (2) – One officer (JN) was approved immediately; the other (LM) was held for closed session. After closed session, the extension was approved unanimously.

20. Probation Extensions for Police Sergeant (2) – Approved unanimously.

21. Probation Extension for Police Records Specialist III – Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions and communications were adopted or placed on file as specified, with all votes unanimous (9-0) where recorded.
• The commission will implement the Five Ps framework for community engagement and explore the CCJ AI decision framework.
• The contingent PRT process will be piloted on July 11-12, 2026, allowing candidates who nearly pass to proceed conditionally with mandatory fit camp attendance.
• MPD will provide a fall update on the SRO program, including data on arrests, positive interactions, community referrals, and responses to specific policy questions.
• The commission will prepare a summary document for alders regarding vehicle pursuit policy discussions in advance of the July 14 Common Council vote.
• Closed session was held to interview a candidate for Court Liaison Officer and a police officer on probation extension; both were approved thereafter.