Madison Police Chief Mike Koval:
Last night (07-02-19), the Common Council voted to approve a contract to keep police officers in our four main high schools. [More here.] I think this is a win for public safety and I am relieved that this process has come to its conclusion.
Over the 2018-19 school year:
- Citations fell over 66% from the previous year and are almost 70% down from the 2015-2016 school year
- EVERY juvenile issued a municipal citation through age 16, regardless of offense, is offered restorative justice.
- Truancy accounted for 43% of all the citations issued at our high schools over the past four school years. The school directs the officer to issue a citation.
- Only 0.5% of high school students were arrested on campus.
- Twenty-five (25) individuals accounted for one-third of all citations and arrests.
- Four of every five arrests involved a student identifying as African-American in a school district population in which they number one of five.
Chief Koval:
Clearly, there is still much to be done with respect to exploring additional options in addressing the disparities that we see in our schools. Through deeper analysis and the new quarterly data meetings with MMSD staff that are required under the new contract, I am convinced that real opportunities will emerge for collaborative problem solving and proactive intervention efforts.
View the document here for the full report: MMSD Arrest and Citation Report
Blaska Policy Werkes 
4 responses to “Chief Koval: Finally!”
[…] But Evers sided with Freedom Inc. (They are “right on!”) He demanded a “paradigm shift” to combat the racism he knows must exist in Madison schools or what else explains the racial disparity in school discipline? (See the follow-up from Chief Koval.) […]
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Brandi, Brenda, “M” and many others would do well to acknowledge this achievement and change their obdurate perspectives. While it shows the improvement, it demonstrates how simple a solution it would be if the schools could just expel those 25 thugs-in-training. Imagine the results if the teachers & SRO’s weren’t hampered by the current “rules of engagement” dictated by the school board. Then the focus/results on academics would surely improve as well.
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Anecdotal evidence from friends with kids in Madison schools suggests the numbers may be down because the cops are turning a blind eye, at the behest of school administrators.
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Totally agree! When success is measured as fewer arrests, fewer arrests you shall have.
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