Number
201509
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BORKOWSKI
Title
Substitute resolution approving an agreement between the Milwaukee Police Department and Kirkstall Road Enterprises, Inc., regarding participation in a television production.
Analysis
This resolution approves an agreement between the Police Department and Kirkstall Road Enterprises, Inc., related to participation in a television production.
Body
Whereas, A&E’s The First 48 is a documentary-style reality television show produced by Kirkstall Road Enterprises, Inc., and distributed by the A&E Network that shows behind-the-scenes footage of real-life criminal investigations while following homicide detectives in the critical first 48 hours of investigation; and
Whereas, A&E’s The First 48 gives viewers access and insight into crime scenes, investigative techniques, interrogations and forensic processing; and
Whereas, A&E’s The First 48 has aired over 400 episodes since 2004, documenting homicide investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Mobile, New Orleans, Phoenix, Rochester, Tucson, Tulsa and other cities across the country; and
Whereas, A&E’s The First 48 approached the Police Department with a proposal to embed videographers and producers with detectives in the Homicide Division for the purpose of documenting homicide investigations for one or more future episodes; and
Whereas, Participation in A&E’s The First 48 would confer a number of benefits to the Police Department; and
Whereas, Episodes of A&E’s The First 48 featuring footage of Police Department investigations would document the Police Department’s commitment and professionalism while investigating homicides, show detectives’ efforts to seek justice for victims and their families, and humanize and present officers and detectives in a unique light to the local community; and
Whereas, Other cities that have participated in A&E’s The First 48 have found that doing so raised the local police department’s profile while serving as a recruiting tool; and
Whereas, The proposed agreement between the Police Department and Kirkstall Road Enterprises, Inc., (“the Agreement”), as attached to this file, outlines the Police Department’s planned participation with A&E’s The First 48; and
Whereas, As set forth in the Agreement, participation may or may not result in the broadcast of one or more episodes featuring the Police Department’s investigation of a homicide; and
Whereas, The Police Department will not receive compensation for participating in production of A&E’s The First 48, nor does the Department expect to incur any costs associated with participation; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Agreement between the Police Department and Kirkstall Road Enterprises, Inc., related to Police Department participation in a television production, and as attached to this file, is approved; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Chief of Police, or the Chief’s designee, and the appropriate City officials are authorized to execute the Agreement, or one substantially similar.
Requestor
Police Department
Drafter
LRB176587-3
Dana J. Zelazny
March 9, 2021