Number
170816
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. ZIELINSKI, STAMPER, DONOVAN, RAINEY, PEREZ, HAMILTON AND BORKOWSKI
Title
Substitute resolution urging the Chief of Police to support a Community Oriented Policing House public safety initiative.
Analysis
This resolution urges the Chief of Police and the Fire and Police Commission to support the Milwaukee Community Oriented Policing (COP) House public safety initiative, to work with the sponsors of the initiative to establish criteria for locating a COP House in Milwaukee, and to develop and implement a plan for police officers and community partners to operate within a Milwaukee COP House.
Body
Whereas, The City of Racine launched a program in 1996 in which vacant homes in higher-crime neighborhoods were renovated and established as community oriented policing houses, or COP Houses, for use by the Racine Police Department; and
Whereas, Racine’s six COP Houses serve as outposts in vulnerable neighborhoods, enabling police officers to maintain a strong presence, spend more time working with residents to solve crime and disorder problems, host community gatherings, and provide a positive and structured environment focused on learning, including classroom and computer labs for local residents; and
Whereas, Racine’s COP Houses have also served as a satellite facility for partner agencies to provide services, including probation agents who use them to have check-in visits with clients, or volunteers that provide youth programming, help with homework and arts and crafts lessons; and
Whereas, The City of Racine reports that the COP Houses have led to improvements with property maintenance, reduced crime rates and better community relationships between neighbors and the police; and
Whereas, Racine has reported that through the COP House program, crime “has been reduced up to 70%” in some cases; and
Whereas, Members of the Common Council, in partnership with the President of the Milwaukee Police Association, have launched a Milwaukee COP House public safety initiative; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee COP House public safety initiative, which is still in an exploratory phase, proposes that a vacant, City-owned home would be renovated and used by the Police Department as a base to provide police services to the neighborhood, build relationships with residents, and identify criminal activity while at the same time addressing socio-economic issues by connecting residents with area agencies for help; and
Whereas, The COP House public safety initiative also proposes equipping the COP House with computers and staff from education partners who will offer safe and accessible locations for tutoring and educational advancement; now, therefore be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Chief of Police and the Fire and Police Commission are urged to support the Milwaukee Community Oriented Policing (COP) House public safety initiative; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Chief of Police and the Fire and Police Commission are urged to work with the sponsors of the COP House public safety initiative to establish criteria for locating a COP House in Milwaukee and to develop and implement a plan for police officers and community partners to operate within a Milwaukee COP House; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send a certified copy of this resolution to the Fire and Police Commission.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB169582-3
Dana J. Zelazny
September 27, 2017