city of wauwatosa - granicus

CITY OF WAUWATOSA

Wauwatosa Government Affairs Ad-Hoc Committee on issues related to Policing and Racial Equity

AGENDA ● DECEMBER 7, 2020

Regular Meeting Virtual Meeting 5:30 PM

7725 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213

City of Wauwatosa Updated 12/4/2020 2:03 PM

WAUWATOSA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AD-HOC COMMITTEE ITEMS

PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will be conducted via Zoom only by resolution of the Common

Council.

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Enter Meeting ID 816 2119 7591. There will be a prompt to enter a name and email. Members of the

public will be able to join the meeting as an attendee. No Zoom account is necessary to utilize this

function.

Any person who is unable to access the meeting via the internet link may call 1(301) 715-8592 and

enter Meeting ID 816 2119 7591 to monitor the conduct of the meeting via telephone.

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1. Update on agenda items (Ald. Stippich)

2. Discussion on Police Department data presentation in November (Government Affairs

Committee)

3. Discussion on Police Department training (Ald. O'Reilly)

4. Discussion on Police Department external communication (Ald. Byrne)

5. Discussion on use of no-knock warrants (Government Affairs Committee)

6. Future agenda items

a. Government Affairs Committee request for presentation from Ad Hoc Committee

summarizing their work (Ald. Kofroth)

Any person who has a qualifying disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act who requires the meeting or materials at the

meeting to be in an accessible location or format, must contact the City Clerk at voice telephone 479-8917 or TTY 471-8484 (City Hall, 7725 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213) for accommodations. Requests for accommodations for meetings should be made at least three (3)

business days prior to the meeting. Every effort will be made to arrange accommodations for all meetings; so please give the City Clerk as much advance notice as possible.

AD Hoc Committee

November 24, 2020

Wauwatosa Police Department

Lieutenant Gary J. Gabrish

Overview of Training for Sworn Personnel

1

Introduction: The Wauwatosa Police Department trains as much as possible while keeping in mind the

needs of the public, normal police operations, and the priorities of the department. The Wisconsin Law

Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) mandates that each sworn certified member of the police

department receive a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of training each year. The fiscal training year

for LESB runs from July 1st through June 30th of the following year. There are two mandatory

requirements of LESB: yearly handgun qualification and a bi-annual emergency vehicle operation

training.

Each sworn member of this department engages in training that is constructed from the core disciplines

of law enforcement which include Firearms, Defense and Arrest Tactics (DAAT), Vehicle Contacts, and

Emergency Vehicle Operation and Control (EVOC). Many additional areas of training are included within

these core topics. Examples of this would be professional and tactical communication, de-escalation,

use of deadly force, officer safety and critical thinking.

In addition, sworn members also receive medical training (CPR, Use of Tourniquets, etc.), standardized

field sobriety testing, electronic control device use, and less lethal decision-making. Throughout the

training year, if an incident occurs when training issues are identified, we conduct specific training to

address that. An example of this would be the education and use of Narcan for the dramatic increase in

heroin overdoses that started a couple of years ago.

The Wauwatosa Police Department has several units within the organization like the Special Response

Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Crowd Control Team, and Police Officer Support Team. Any extra

training for employees is also documented and recorded with WI LESB.

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training: Currently, the Wauwatosa Police Department has sent 13 sworn personnel and 7 emergency dispatchers for certification through the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) week-long training program. We anticipate hosting a CIT course in February of 2021 and will send several of our officers to attend it. Our goal is to have all sworn personnel eventually attend and receive certification through this training within the next five years.

Annual Training: The Wauwatosa Police Department follows an annual training schedule to satisfy

many of the areas discussed in the introduction of this report. The police department’s position of

Director of Personnel and Training has the responsibility to ensure that proper training occurs in the

core areas and/or areas that are identified throughout the year. The Director of Personnel and Training

sets an annual training calendar for sworn personnel.

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AD Hoc Committee

November 24, 2020




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Training is scheduled for the department and balances time and budget concerns. Training is either on-

shift or off-shift. During on-shift training, sworn personnel break away from their normal duties and

participate in training during roll calls or normal scheduled hours of work. When officers perform off-

shift training, they are engaged in intense training like live firearms training on a weapons range,

scenario training with use of force and de-escalation topics, or on a driving course for vehicle

operations. All of the training is mandatory, whether it is on shift or performed off duty on overtime.

Annual Training Calendar: The annual training calendar requires the core areas to be covered each

year, but there is flexibility throughout the year for when additional topics need to be addressed. The

calendar is flexible as large-scale incidents like COVID 19 or protest planning have occurred.

The following is the model for our recent annual training accompanied by a brief synopsis. I have used

training topics from the 2019 and 2020 Training Calendar for this example:

2019/2020 Wauwatosa Police Training Calendar

January

1. Intoximeter Certification: Every police officer is trained with the State of WI on utilizing the

Intoximeter machine for gathering breath evidence for situations like absolute sobriety and

operating while intoxicated. The purpose is to maintain certification and receive legal updates.

2. Cell Phone Training: Officers and Detectives are taught about evidence and privacy laws

regarding the handling of cell phones during investigations. The purpose is to ensure proper

handling while gaining vital evidence.

3. Handgun Qualifications: Every sworn member must satisfy the State LESB requirement to

qualify with their handgun. Qualification training includes deadly force definitions, short and

middle range shooting, tactical communication, and weapon malfunction drills.

February

1. Sworn Personnel In-service at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC): All sworn personnel

are assigned to attend a one-day in-service training at WCTC to obtain certification for

Emergency Vehicle Operations and Control, a State LESB requirement. The EVOC training is 4.0

hours and the second half of the day centered around identifying narcotics and safe handling.

The in-service classes are scheduled over several months to get all sworn personnel to the

training.

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November 24, 2020




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March

1. Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Training: this is a law

enforcement and fire personnel program on how to respond to violent encounters, usually an

active shooter. The purpose is to get Police and Fire onto the same goal to save lives, stop the

violence and suspect(s), and maintain order. Life-saving tactics are stressed during the training.

April

1. Firearms Training: Training occurred at an outdoor range on deadly force requirements and

considerations. The training is centered around the use of handgun and the patrol shotgun. The

purpose of training is to remain proficient with weapons as well as incorporating tactical

communication. Fire arm accuracy is stressed. Shoot and no shoot situations are utilized during

training.

May

1. Vehicle Contacts Training: All sworn personnel participate in training involving traffic stops,

vehicle-involved situations on patrol, and emergency vehicle driving. The purpose of the

training is to ensure safety for officers and the public, as well as learn from past driving

mistakes. In addition, less lethal and de-escalation tactics are intertwined within the scenarios.

June

1. Crowd Control Training: this was conducted at an alternate site to train for crowd disturbances.

The purpose is to train officers to deal with the public in hostile and non-hostile environments

and to work as a team to avoid injuries to the public and law enforcement personnel. The

training consists of making formations, tactics to reduce hostility, and escalation and de-

escalation tactics.

July

1. Canine Training: this was conducted with hands-on training as well as learning how and when to

properly utilize canines. The purpose of the training is to reduce liability and gain confidence in

teaming up with our canine handlers and their dogs.

August

1. Emergency Vehicle Operations and Control Training: All sworn personnel participate in course

driving, power point discussion, and most likely videos to punctuate the importance of defensive

driving, officer safety and due regard for the public while operating department vehicles. A

large percentage of the training pertains to pursuit driving and responding to calls appropriately.

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AD Hoc Committee

November 24, 2020




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The primary purpose is to operate our emergency vehicles safely and according to state

statutes, and guide decision-making to operate vehicles safely.

2. Milwaukee Regional Medical Complex In-Service Training: All sworn personnel attended a one-

day “phase 1” program as the Wauwatosa Police Department is phasing in the patrol of the

MRMC grounds. The purpose is entry-level geographical and procedural training as well as

many details on liability and safety.

September

1. Defense and Arrest Tactics (DAAT) Training: this covers use of force dynamics from presence and dialogue, control alternatives, protective alternatives and deadly force. DAAT is defined by the State of Wisconsin as a professional system of verbalization skills coupled with physical alternatives. There are many DAAT concepts and rules that are addressed during the training. DAAT training is usually composed of hands-on training, scenarios that incorporate de-escalation as well as escalation techniques, and training debriefs. The purpose of DAAT training is to reinforce the mode and purpose of each intervention option and to prepare the officer for any type of response that may be needed during any encounter.

2. Implicit Bias Training: There were two levels of training that occurred for the topic of implicit bias/unconscious bias. The City of Wauwatosa had all of its supervisors participate in a three-part webinar from an independent source for learning and developing improved practices. The second implicit bias training was presented by the police department to all sworn personnel as well as civilian employees so that they would gain a true understanding of its concepts. One of the goals of the training is to get employees to gain an appreciation of how bias may have a different meaning to everyone based on how they were raised, where they grew up and how their decisions may be affected by their experiences and surroundings. Additionally, several police department members participated in the Zeidler Group talks and meetings which were sponsored by the City of Wauwatosa.

October

1. Less Lethal Training: All sworn personnel are annually retrained in the use of the less lethal

shotgun and its concepts as a control & life-saving device. Training includes a weapons

qualification, scenario training with shoot and no shoot endings, and policy and procedure

review.

2. Protective Hood/Spit Mask Training: All sworn personnel receive training on the use of a

protective hood for subjects that are a risk of harming officers and/or others with an intent on

spitting or biting an officer. The purpose of this training is to assure prisoner safety as well as

officer safety. The use of a protective hood is a use of force and a de-escalation tool.

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AD Hoc Committee

November 24, 2020




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November

1. Firearms Training: Training on an outdoor and indoor range on deadly force requirements and

considerations. The training is centered around the use of a handgun and the patrol rifle. The

purpose of training is to remain proficient and safe with weapons as well as tactical

communications. Accuracy is stressed and incorporates shoot and no shoot scenarios.

December

1. Handgun Qualifications Training: this is conducted for all sworn personnel and is finished in

January. All sworn personnel must qualify on a range with their weapon per WI LESB

requirement.

Documentation: The Director of Training and Personnel keeps track of all mandatory training and any

additional or elective training for sworn personnel. When officers attend training, they sign off on a

roster and it is approved by the instructor or supervisor in charge of the individual training. These

rosters are collected and stored in the training office for accountability reasons. Once training has

concluded for a topic, the information is entered into a State database called ACADIS. The Wisconsin

ACADIS Administrative Portal is regulated and reviewed by the Wisconsin LESB. The use of ACADIS

allows the State of Wisconsin to review training and recertify sworn law enforcement officers annually.

ACADIS is the State’s system for training accountability and maintaining organizational information.

Conclusion: The Wauwatosa Police Department goes above and beyond the State of Wisconsin’s

minimum requirement(s) for individual training. The police department command staff makes it a top

priority to train its members and realizes frequent training reinforces core competencies and skills, as

well as improves its officers. The more training the officer receives and participates in, the more they

are ready to professionally serve the community.

Lastly, the State of Wisconsin LESB sets the minimum training for each Officer at 24 hours per year.

However, over the last few years, the Wauwatosa Police Department has accomplished approximately

44 hours of training on average per officer.

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AD Hoc Committee

November 24, 2020


Captain Jack E. Morrison

A Description of How Communication Works at the PD

Public Information Office

Earlier this year the Wauwatosa Police Department instituted a Public Information Office,

to increase presence and information sharing on our communication platforms through a

team effort opposed to an individual decision-making process – as had been past practice.

The goal of this team, which includes the Administrative Captain, Administrative

Lieutenant, two Administrative Sergeants (one who represents the department as the Public

Information Officer), and a citizen clerk, is to work collaboratively with the City’s social

media information and communication platforms to deliver accurate and timely responses

to citizen requests or concerns, provide alerts to major incidents, and the delivery of

departmental information.

The Public Information Office is the central location for all press contacts and media

requests, as well as an important point of contact for members of the community

seeking information from the police. Working with the media is a sensitive and

important function of the police department.

Communication, and the sharing of accurate information, is of high importance to the

Wauwatosa Police Department and as such the need for training in the art of

communication is warranted. Members of our communication team have attended, or are

enrolled to attend, in higher level communication skills training sponsored through the FBI-

LEEDA training programs. The Media & Public Relations course training program, a

comprehensive and intense 4 ½ day class includes the following training for our team

members: Image, branding and perception (News releases), Media relations

(Interviews), Crisis Communications, Social Media and Case Study (Desktop simulated

crisis exercises).

Administrative Sergeant Abby Pavlik, as our Public Information Officer (PIO), is the

principal administer of the Public Information Office: information shared via our social

media platforms will most often be approved and released from her office. Sergeant

Pavlik’s responsibilities include responding to media requests from local, national, and

international media outlets, issuing news releases, and crime alerts. In addition, Sergeant

Pavlik monitors news stories to ensure accuracy in reporting events that occur in

Wauwatosa. She works closely with the Investigations Bureau in the release of timely

information as it relates to significant incidents within the city.

All supervisors are authorized to release information deemed to be of immediate

importance to the public: i.e., a crash resulting in closed roadways and re-routing of vehicle

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AD Hoc Committee

November 24, 2020


Captain Jack E. Morrison

A Description of How Communication Works at the PD

traffic is needed or incidents presenting a danger to the public. Press releases that follow

these types of incidents will be issued through the Public Information Office.

Every week, the police department sends out the previous weeks calls for service to local

media outlets. Requests for additional information from media outlets regarding calls for

service are received, and responded to, by our Records Division.

The Public Information Office has the following responsibilities in the coordination

and control of the news release information:

It shall be the responsibility of the Police Chief or a designee thereof, to act as the

official spokesperson of the Wauwatosa Police Department in conducting and

maintaining an active liaison with the news media.

Assisting news personnel in covering routine news stories and at the scene of

incidents.

Availability to the media of a police spokesperson at night and on weekends when

needed.

Preparing and distributing news releases.

Arranging for and assisting at news conferences.

Coordinating and authorizing the release of information about victims, witnesses, and

suspects.

Assisting in crisis situations.

Coordinating and authorizing the release of information concerning confidential

agency investigations and operations.

The news media – including newspapers, and television are the means by which the

community can learn quickly and effectively the activities and operations of the Police

Department. The public has a right to the kind of news and information that the police

can furnish and the news media has the right to disseminate this information.

The Police Department social media platforms, coupled with the City of Wauwatosa

City Hall communication platforms are additional means by which the community

learns about the activities of the Police Department

In the event of a fast-breaking case with media attention, the Public Information Office

will prepare an appropriate release according to suggested guidelines in the name of

the Police Chief.

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