MILWAUKEE — In response to the death of George Floyd and protests that have broken out across the U.S., Mayor Tom Barrett has announced the creation of the Commission on Police Accountability and Reform.
The new commission will work to "examine police practices regarding “use of force” and other police tactics with a goal of strengthening community policing and trust among law enforcement officers and members of our community," according to a press release.
The group will be made up of community, civic, and grassroots leaders who will interact with communities facing the greatest frequency of police violence.
These leaders will take ideas and experience from the community to create solutions.
According to a press release from the Mayor, the commission will take on the following tasks:
- Reviewing the Milwaukee Police Department’s “use of force” policies and make recommendations for needed reforms.
- Determining if the Milwaukee Police Department is institutionalizing President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing Guidelines.
- Assessing the Milwaukee Police Department progress in implementing strategies in the Blueprint for Peace, calling for increased de-escalation and implicit bias training.
- Reviewing and assessing progress in implementing recommendations from the Community Collaborative Committee, and respond to additional recommendations submitted by the community.
The commission will have a special focus on black males, who are disproportionately impacted by police violence, according to the Mayor's press release. They will publicly present its findings and recommendations and seek ongoing community feedback.
Mayor Barrett is instructing the commission to finish its work within 90 days, and said the leaders will be announced in the coming days.
