Did a crossing guard yell at your kid?

Blaska Policy Werkes monitored Thursday’s meeting of the Police Civilian Oversight Board. It was painful.

The City of Madison created this 11-member paean to Wokeness to pillory the racist slave catchers when they needlessly target people of color, as progressives believe occurs as a matter of course. (The City is reluctant to even experiment with body cameras for fear the technology might prove the contrary.) To combat alleged racism, the council imposed race-tests on members: half had to be black and the others Asian, “Latinx,” Native America, LBGTQ — and/or convicted of a crime. Which is about to be changed due to Blaska’s lawsuit.

Unlike almost every other citizen committee, members get paid — although not enough, according to vice chair Shadayra Kilfoy-Flores. City ordinance also creates a full-time independent monitor. Today, almost two years after passage, the PCOB is no closer to filling the post despite offering a $120,000 annual salary.

Monitor THIS!

Offered the job to one person, she turned it down. Tried a second person only to learn he had discriminated against a woman with whom he was having a sexual affair. Passed over a man who met all the qualifications but, alas and alack, he’s white as Wonder Bread. (He’s suing, too.) Decided to hire a head hunter. Learned last night 04-28-22 that none are interested. One of them said “news surrounding the previous search leads us to believe this would be challenging.”

The head hunters are aware of the mess in Denver, where the job has been vacant for over a year because the social justice warriors who run the thing (as in Madison) are squabbling amongst themselves.

Undeterred, Madison’s Police Civilian Oversight Board last night jabbered on about hiring staff any way and maybe an interim independent monitor and how about a youth auxiliary?! Which leads to today’s lesson (and none too soon!):

Let’s say the cop second-guessers had been all staffed up on day one, 11-30-2020. Independent monitor situated in a corner office on the fourth floor of the City-County Building. Secretaries to run errands and work the Keurig coffee machine. A receptionist to turn away visitors. Website, PR campaign, repurposed election drop boxes to accept complaints.

Would there be any business for this over-paid bureaucrat? What, in the last 15 months, would s/he monitor? We can think only of the fentanyl dealer whom law enforcement shot on American Parkway northeast of town in February. (More here.) Problem? That was a WI Dept of Justice operation — outside the purview of the city PCOB. Can you think of any others?

In any event, only the City Police & Fire Commission can discipline a police officer. (Duties of the independent monitor.)

---

Notice something? Since Volodymyr Zelensky said he needed ammo, not a ride, we don’t hear progressives bad-mouthing the military-industrial complex any more. Second Amendment opponents are laying low, as well.

For those of you who yearn for Donald Trump’s third term, who would he support: Russia or Ukraine?

---

Blaska’s Bottom Line: We used to think the Police Civilian Oversight Board was a solution in search of a problem but the Werkes now concludes it is a problem needing solution.

The larger question: are police the problem or is crime?