The Sconi

Fourteen months after a deal was struck with the Legislature, there will still be no police officers in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) as classes commenced Sept. 3. This situation violates a stipulation included in the current state budget.

In June 2023, Milwaukee leaders agreed with legislators to allow both the city and county to raise sales taxes. In return, they committed to reintroducing officers into crime-affected MPS by January 1, 2024.

State Sen. John Jagler, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, expressed his frustration upon learning that MPS has yet to comply with the deadline. “They are breaking the law and they don’t care because there are no ramifications for not complying with this,” Jagler stated. “The flippant attitude is just crazy.”

MPS administrators were expected to update the Milwaukee Board of School Directors about the status of a school resource officer plan at a board meeting Thursday night, according to MPS chief of staff Paulette Chambers. However, no timeline or details regarding the number or deployment of resource officers were provided.

“I am disappointed, but I’m not surprised,” said state Rep. Bob Donovan, who supported the inclusion of resource officers in schools. “They have given every indication that they don’t want these officers back in the schools for whatever reason.”

The Badger Institute sought comments from several MPS officials but received no replies before publication.

Audio from an interview with board member Jilly Gokalgandhi indicated her preference for “restorative justice” over officer placement, which prompted further inquiries from Jagler.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson acknowledged operational challenges faced by MPS but emphasized the need for prompt compliance with state requirements. “I have supported the presence of police officers at Milwaukee schools,” Johnson stated.

Johnson revealed that an agreement had been made to reintroduce officers following a significant increase in police calls at Milwaukee high schools during the 2021-22 school year.

Chambers mentioned that MPS officials visited cities like Washington D.C., Atlanta, and counties in Georgia to observe their resource officer programs. The Badger Institute has requested detailed information regarding these visits.

In those areas, resource officer programs are being strengthened or expanded. For instance, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp allocated nearly $108 million for public safety programs in schools. The D.C. Council decided to maintain resource officers in public and charter schools after initially planning to phase them out. Additionally, Bibb County's Sheriff’s Department deputized more than a dozen school resource officers to enhance community relationships.

Milwaukee and Madison remain unique among Wisconsin's ten largest school districts by lacking a police presence.

Mark Lisheron is Managing Editor of the Badger Institute. Permission to reprint is granted if credited appropriately.

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