Common Council Approves Police Monitor Description, CARES Manager

MADISON, WI—The Madison Common Council gave its final approval to the description of a new independent police monitor position after deliberations regarding the job description at a Tuesday meeting.

The independent monitor position will aim to provide oversight and accountability to the Madison Police Department. Responsibilities include working as a liaison between the community and addressing concerns of board members, various committees, and the mayor, as well as providing reports, reviewing the police chief and making recommendations to the department.

The position will report to the Police Civilian Oversight Board — a 13 person group created to hire and supervise the monitor. Additionally, the board works with the monitor and the community to make policing recommendations.

The board's co-chair, Keetra Burnette, said that she hopes this position will take work “off of the shoulders of volunteers and onto the shoulders of paid staff.” The board facilitated over 20 meetings since Nov. 20 with the completion of the independent monitor position description taking top priority, Burnette said.

The Council adopted the board’s qualifications recommendations, which consider both education and experience. The monitor should have four years experience in a related position, understand the communities served, and in lieu of a postsecondary degree can have “an equivalent combination of education, training and experience shall also be considered,” according to the job description.

This was unanimously adopted by the council.

This came after a failed amendment to require, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field introduced by Sheri Carter, the Alder for District 14.

The position was initially created through recommendations from the city’s Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee and a consulting group called OIR. The Council first approved the idea of a monitor last September.

The annual salary will range from $103,636 to $139,909.

New CARES Position

The Council also voted unanimously to amend the Madison Fire and Public Health Madison and Dane County budgets to include a Public Health Specialist for the CARES program.

This position, Arvina Martin, the Alder for District 11, said, will help evaluate CARES, collect data, help grow the program and ensure it fits the needs of Madison. Martin, who has been spearheading the program along with others from organizations like Journey Mental Health Clinic, said it could be running by August.

The CARES program would also include social workers and community paramedics who would respond to mental health emergencies, alcohol or drug issues and wellness checks. Martin said this is a step in the right direction to make sure people get proper care and things are not escalated needlessly.

“This program has the potential to positively affect our most vulnerable neighbors, and get closer to finding successful and realistic solutions in both immediate situations, as well as long term ones,” Martin said in a blog post.

The city is moving forward with CARES by holding a public information session.

Every alder and Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway sponsored the item.