Writing about the feud between Milwaukee’s Chief Flynn and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bruce Murphy writes that Experts on police departments will tell you that criticism from outside inevitably results in everyone on the force circling the wagons. That’s very true. So true and predictable, that it’s more predictable and regular than Old Faithful has…
Police
City, Crime, Police
Meet the New Press Release, Same as the Old Press Release
by JOHN ADAMS •
Just about a year ago, Whitewater’s former police chief authorized a raid on a drinking party; this year, almost to the day, the city’s new police chief did the same. Scores were cited a year ago; scores were cited this year. Needless to say, last year’s raid did nothing to stop the underage drinking in…
Animals, Government Spending, Police
Update 4: On Edgerton, Wisconsin’s Former Police Dog
by JOHN ADAMS •
There was a follow-up story in the Janesville Gazette about Edgerton’s former police dog, an animal that bit two people (one a police officer from another department, the other an office worker) before it was finally sent away. The cost of settling injuries to the police officer (apparently the lesser of the two injuries) was…
Police
Whitewater’s Next, Permanent Police Chief
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve written before about Whitewater’s search for a police chief, now concluded in the selection of Lisa Otterbacher as the city’s next, permanent police chief. (The remaining few steps are procedural, and simply met.) For an earlier post on the search, see During Whitewater’s Police Chief Search. It was right to conduct a more public…
City, Police
During Whitewater’s Police Chief Search
by JOHN ADAMS •
We’re in the midst of a police chief search (candidate and August 26th forum information available online), but like the mid-point of many searches, there’s only a bit to say. Open Over Closed. An open process is better, in-and-of-itself, than a closed one. Open is the right course. Outcomes matter. No matter how fine the…
Law, Liberty, Official Misconduct, Police
Six Years in Prison for Legally Recording a Police Officer?
by JOHN ADAMS •
Photography and video recordings both protect honest police departments against false accusations and assure communities receive information about instances of official misconduct. When citizens exercise their rights to photography and video recording, they are also bolstering the work of good officers by helping identify a few corrupt ones. Yet not everyone sees it this way,…
City, Police, School District
Whitewater’s Different Search Strategies
by JOHN ADAMS •
While Whitewater’s police department has embarked on a traditional search strategy with a consulting firm, Whitewater’s school district is willing first to consider internal candidates in a backyard-search strategy. Will the different methods produce results different in candidate quality? Thats hard to knoww, although a national search should yield a stronger field.
City, Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Police, Politics, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 173
by JOHN ADAMS •
Yesterday, Rep. Don Pridemore’s Arizona-syle immigration legislation received a numerical designation: Assembly Bill 173. The full text of the bill is online at the Legislature’s website. The bill has the following initial sponsors: “Representatives Pridemore, Wynn, LeMahieu, Kleefisch, Steineke and Jacque; Cosponsored by Senator Lasee.” One could have expected Wynn to support this measure. His…
City, Crime, Police
Common Council: Crime Prevention
by JOHN ADAMS •
Property crimes, although not as reprehensible as crimes of violence, are yet significant wrongs. Theft injures its victims, and undermines civil society. One has no reason to be sympathetic to thieves. Individuals and society benefit from strong private property rights. Whitewater, perhaps more than other towns nearby, has a problem with property crimes, including car…
City, Freedom of Speech, Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Police
The Government’s War on Cameras
by JOHN ADAMS •
Photography and recordings do much to safeguard citizens’ rights and protect honest officers against false accusations. Places in which officials discourage lawful, constitutional photography are ones in which officials not only act outside the law but also imprudently. There will be fewer injustices, and better policing, in a word of expansive photographers’ rights. By the…
City, Laws/Regulations, Police
Whitewater’s May 3rd Common Council Meeting
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s another council meeting tonight, but two political parts of the last meeting stand out. Fees for a Search Firm. There was discussion, and approval, of additional fees for a police search. Approval was the right decision, and the additional cost would have been easier if former police chief Coan hadn’t sought to retain thousands…
City, Government Spending, Police
Funding a Leadership Search
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater’s Police Commission is conducting the search for a new chief, and there’s a request before Whitewater’s common council for additional funding. Information on the request may be found in the council agenda packet, and in a story about the search published last week in Walworth County Today. See, Whitewater panel seeks more money for…
City, Police
The Telling Requirement
by JOHN ADAMS •
There is no more powerful sign during a long-tenured leader’s departure than that, as he leaves, he is asked to sign an agreement that includes a promise that he never seek or return to his old job again. All those many years, all those many grandiose claims of excellence, achievement, and greatness — all of…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Police
Institute for Justice Shines Light on Law Enforcement Slush Funds
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve posted before about the harm to sound law enforcement through ‘policing for profit,’ where the promise of financial gain motivates law enforcement efforts. Fortunately, the Institute for Justice has done fine work exposing the distortion — and lack of accountability — in departments that drift into this bad habit. See, for example, The Institute…