Number
200305
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. JOHNSON, LEWIS, SPIKER, BORKOWSKI, RAINEY, DIMITRIJEVIC, STAMPER, AND KOVAC
Title
Substitute resolution urging the Fire and Police Commission to redouble recruitment efforts within Milwaukee neighborhoods so that the Fire and Police Departments are more diverse and reflective of the communities that they serve.
Analysis
This resolution urges the Fire and Police Commission to redouble recruitment efforts within Milwaukee neighborhoods so that the Fire and Police Departments are more diverse and reflective of the communities that they serve.
Body
Whereas, The officer-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has given rise to protests and demonstrations in Milwaukee and nationwide to urge for police reform and changes in the treatment of people of color by public safety agencies; and
Whereas, These recent demonstrations give voice to long-standing tensions between people of color and public safety agencies, particularly law enforcement, in Milwaukee; and
Whereas, One facet of the tensions between public safety agencies and the communities served by these agencies is whether the membership of public safety agencies are representative of the communities served; and
Whereas, For 75 years, City employees, including sworn members of the Police and Fire Departments, were required to reside within the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, Police officers, firefighters and other members of the Police and Fire Departments serve as anchors of the neighborhoods they live in; and
Whereas, The Wisconsin Legislature ended the residency rule in 2013, leading to an exodus of City employees, particularly public safety employees, moving out of Milwaukee, and opening the applicant pool for public safety positions to individuals who do not live or want to live in Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The number of sworn Police and Fire Department employees living outside of Milwaukee has steadily increased, from none in 201...
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