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Independent Police Monitor Termination

At a glance

  • What: A resolution (file 95140) "to terminate the appointment of the Interim Independent Police Monitor effective immediately." The minutes do not name the interim monitor.
  • Where it stands: Adopted October 20, 2026 by a 14 to 6 roll call, after the Council voted 18 to 2 to call the question (end debate). It was introduced October 6 and referred to October 20.
  • Next: Two related items were referred on October 20: an ad hoc committee of alders and Police Civilian Oversight Board members to work through structural concerns and a "functioning Office of the Independent Monitor" (file 95306, referred to a future meeting to adopt), and a contract with Alma Advisory Group to help the Police Oversight Board act as hiring manager for the permanent Independent Police Monitor (file 95324, referred). No dates are given for either.

Who sponsored and how members voted

  • Sponsors on October 20: Alder Ochowicz, President Madison, Alder Cole, Alder Evers, Alder Vidaver, Alder Field, Alder Pritchett, Alder Lankella, Alder O'Brien. On October 6 the list was shorter (Alder Ochowicz, President Madison, Alder Cole, Alder Evers, Alder Vidaver, Alder Field and Alder Pritchett); Alder Lankella and Alder O'Brien were added by the 20th.
  • Motion to call the question (end debate), 18 ayes, 2 noes. The noes were Alder Mayer and Alder Pritchett. Mayor Rhodes-Conway was listed as non-voting.
  • Adopt, 14 ayes, 6 noes. Ayes: Alder Ochowicz, Alder Field, Alder Verveer, Alder Vidaver, Alder Lankella, Alder Pritchett, Alder Cole, Alder Tishler, Alder Evers, Alder Lieberman, Alder Martinez-Rutherford, Alder O'Brien, President Madison, Alder Guequierre. Noes: Alder Nzegwu, Alder Mayer, Alder Zhang, Alder Matthews, Alder Glenn, Alder Harrington-McKinney. Mayor Rhodes-Conway non-voting.
  • Earlier on October 20, a separate roll call recorded with a motion to "Recess until the Call of the Chair" had 4 ayes (Alder Ochowicz, Alder Pritchett, Alder Cole, Alder Evers) and 16 noes. The minutes do not say who moved it or what it concerned beyond that heading.
  • The minutes record no movers, seconders or debate text for the termination, and no public speakers.
  • September 22, 2026, file 94641: Directing the Chief of Police to report on the status of recommendations on Madison Police Department policies and procedures. Sponsors Alder Glenn and Alder Matthews. Alder Lieberman moved, seconded by Alder Glenn, to amend; the amendment passed by voice vote. President Madison moved, seconded by Alder Glenn, to adopt with amendments (voice vote, RES-26-00529). The item came from the Police Civilian Oversight Board and was taken before the Chief's report.
  • September 22, 2026, file 94792: second quarter report from Chief Patterson, accepted unanimously on President Madison's motion, seconded by Alder Glenn.
  • October 20, 2026, Executive Committee: Alder Guequierre gave a status update on the President's Workgroup on Madison Police Department use of deadly force, de-escalation, and body-worn camera policies and procedures. No action.
  • File 95306 (ad hoc committee) sponsors: Alder Matthews and Alder Mayer. File 95324 (Alma Advisory Group contract, funded from salary savings in the Office of the Independent Monitor budget, with "robust public input") sponsor: Alder Matthews.

Gaps

  • Reasons for the termination, the monitor's identity and any public testimony are not in the minutes. The Police Civilian Oversight Board minutes were not read.

Sources

Log

2026-10-20 - Common Council

File 95140 adopted 14 to 6 after the question was called 18 to 2. Ad hoc oversight committee (95306) and Alma Advisory Group hiring-support contract (95324) introduced and referred. Executive Committee heard the deadly force workgroup update from Alder Guequierre.

2026-10-06 - Common Council

File 95140 introduced; referred to the October 20 meeting for adoption.

2026-09-22 - Common Council

Resolution 94641 asking the Chief of Police for a status report on oversight board recommendations adopted with amendments; Chief Patterson's second quarter report accepted.

2026-10-26 - Finance Committee

The Finance Committee considered file 95324 (Alma Advisory Group contract to help the Police Oversight Board act as hiring manager for the permanent Independent Police Monitor). Three people registered to speak. An amendment by Alder Vidaver to authorize only an executive search firm failed for lack of a second. The main motion failed on a roll call with six noes (Madison, Verveer, Vidaver, Evers, Lankella, O'Brien); Rhodes-Conway non-voting. The committee then voted by voice to recommend placing the item on file.