Milwaukee Public Schools Cuts Ties With Milwaukee Police

MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee Public Schools will no longer have police officers at school or at school-related activities after the School Board voted to end contracts with the Milwaukee Police Department for police services.

The board voted unanimously to end the contracts Thursday night.

The Milwaukee Public School District and the Milwaukee Police Department partnered in 2005 to provide a police presence at high schools between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to provide dedicated patrol and presence at such school-related events as dismissal, social/sports events, gatherings of outsiders among other functions.

Under the terms of the resolution, district officials will be expected to lobby the Wisconsin State Legislature to overturn a state statute that requires an officer-staffed anti-truancy program and related programs.

Board members Paula Phillips and Sequanna Taylor brought the resolution forward Thursday night. In it, Phillips and Taylor said "the recent violent deaths of Alvin Cole, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, all African-American citizens, has re-ignited long-time fears and resentments about the attitudes of police departments across the United States toward African-Americans and other peoples of color," and that "research has long proven that reduced classroom sizes, restorative practices, engaging culturally relevant curriculum, and mental health supports, do create safe, healthy, and joyful learning environments."

Nearly 90 percent of the district's roughly 74,000 student population are students of color, according to official district figures.

The Milwaukee police department issued a statement before Thursday's vote reaffirming their support for MPS schools, students and staff.

"The Milwaukee Police Department fully supports the Milwaukee Public School system if it decides to remove all School Resource Officers from its schools. We agree with the many voices from our community who believe that the funding should be reinvested into our public school system to support social services. Regardless of the vote, MPD will continue to support MPS and MPS students."

Under the terms of the resolution:

• All contracts with the Milwaukee Police Department for the services of School Resource Officers and other personnel are immediately terminated.
• That the Milwaukee Board of School Directors directs the Superintendent to cease any further negotiations with the Milwaukee Police Department for the services of School Resource Officers and other personnel.
• The Board of Directors directs the Superintendent to cease any contracts to buy or maintain criminalizing equipment including metal detectors, facial recognition software and social media monitoring software.
• The Milwaukee Board of School Directors directs the Superintendent to develop recommendations for using the money previously allocated to police contracts for replacement programs to begin immediately with the 2020-21 school year.
• The Superintendent is to present these recommendations to the Board for its approval by the Aug. 2020 board cycle.