or use money for police-worn cameras.
Three alders attempted to eliminate the do-nothing Independent Police Monitor and the 11-member Police Civilian Oversight Board from the 2026 city budget. They wanted to use that $405,299 to pay for staffing to facilitate the eventual implementation of much discussed but long-delayed police body-worn cameras.
Alders Isadore Knox, Joanne Pritchett, and Barbara Harrington-McKinney submitted the amendment from the floor without going through committee deliberation. After three hours of deliberation, they persuaded no other alders. The Council voted 17 to 3 retain the police monitor and oversight board on the way to approving the $452 million 2026 operating city budget.
The positions were created five years ago after a young black man named Tony Robinson Jr., high on drugs, was shot and killed after he attacked a police officer. After several false starts, the Board hired Robin Copley, who quit three years into her tenure in October, saying police gave her PTSD. In those three years, the office never issued a report on a single complaint.
The three alders wanted to use the police monitor money to pay for the five civilian employees the police department estimates it needs to operate the camera system. The $285 million capital budget does not provide for cameras themselves, estimated to cost $6 million. Chief John Patterson said he would ask for them in the 2027 budget.
Monitor was anti-cop
Ald. Knox served on the Oversight Board for two years. The Independent monitor had “a history of ineffectiveness,” he told fellow alders.
“Their recruitment process from the beginning was flawed, resulting in a majority of applicants with a stated interest to eliminate or defund the MPD rather than reform it.” — Ald. Isadore Knox
“Now is the time to move forward with body-worn cameras,” Ald. Knox told fellow alders. “We have the most professional police officers but we got to give them the tools to do their jobs professionally. We’ve been putting this off far too long. It benefits people of color more than anyone.“
“If only there were body-worn cameras on that fateful stairwell,” Ald. Harrington-McKinney speculated, referring to the Tony Robinson shooting.
Madison’s hard left opposes police cameras because they tend to prove the police officer’s version of events.
Civilian Oversight Board member Stephanie Rearick said she was “blind-sided” by the budget amendment, which was introduced from the floor, although word of mouth leaked out over the weekend. Board chairman Maia Pearson (who is also a school board member) said 13 citizen complaints against police are in the pipeline. The PCOB is meeting with three interim monitor candidates Wednesday. After that, the city would have to hire a permanent monitor, which could be a year off.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Other cities do have police oversight boards but those cities do not have police and fire commissions. Madison’s monitor and oversight board are duplicative and anti-cop.
6 responses to “Council refuses to kill independent police monitor”
Dave, I find it hilarious that the supporters of the worthless, money wasting IM and the PCOB get offended when they talk about them getting defunded, But have no problem defunding police.
Just like they want transparency of the police department but oppose body worn cameras.
I guess the independent monitor will accept scratchy, edited video from 5-year-old Samsung Galaxies, but there won’t be any high-tech body cameras accepted.
So stupid. For that much money the city could hire 2 full time psychics.
As always when it comes to Madison city government, image (or window dressing, if you prefer) is more important than reality.
I nominate the Squire for Monitor