West Side Public Safety Listening Session
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
City Center West Conference Center
525 Junction Road, Madison (Map)

(Attendees are welcome to park in the ramp. Please use the entrance doors located at the back of the building adjacent to the parking ramp. These exterior doors will automatically lock at 7:00 that evening, so no one else will be able to enter after that time.)

District 9 Alder, Paul Skidmore, will be hosting a listening session on Wednesday October 4th, 2017 at the City Center West Conference Center from 6pm to 9pm. All are welcome and invited to share their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions about public safety in the City of Madison. The purpose of the meeting is to listen to residents, not for the organizers to give their recommendations. City staff (including the Chief of Police and members of the West District Command Staff) and elected officials will be present to listen to residents. There will be no presentations (organizers may ask questions to clarify).  The goal is to gain understanding of what is important to their constituents, so they can make informed decisions on supporting Madison public safety officers (Police and Fire).

Attendees will have the opportunity to make a statement. They can also bring written testimony or email it to Ald. Skidmore (district9@cityofmadison.com) as well. Statements will be recorded and testimony collected.  Ald. Skidmore plans to share this information with his colleagues on the Council.

Here are some of the key public safety topics that the Madison Common Council, the Ad Hoc Committee on MPD Policy and Procedures, and the consultant who has been hired by the city to study MPD are considering:

1. The need for more police resources (i.e. more officers on the street).
2. The desire to review use of force policies and procedures by officers.
3. The need for body worn cameras to increase accountability and transparency.
4. The need for additional surveillance equipment and technologies.
5. The need for more Neighborhood Based Policing in key neighborhoods.