The Fire and Police Commission is a civilian body which oversees and prescribes general policies, standards, and rules in the Milwaukee Fire Department and the Milwaukee Police Department. Responsibility for day-to-day operation of the Departments rests with their chiefs and is overseen by the Commission.
The Commission is comprised of seven part-time citizens, and a full-time professional staff led by an executive director. The seven part-time Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor of Milwaukee, and must be approved by the Common Council. They serve overlapping five-year terms. Some Commissioners have active professional careers; others are retired. Diversity of background and experience makes the Commissioners representative of the entire Milwaukee community.
The Commission holds regular business meetings twice each month except August. These meetings are open to the public, and agendas are published in advance on the web site. Meetings are usually on the first and third Thursdays of the month, at 5.30 p.m., on the third floor of City Hall (200 East Wells Street). Some meetings are held in community locations.
History
The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, which was established in 1885, is the oldest civil service authority in Wisconsin. The original Commission, which had four members, was created to remove the fire and police services from politics. Until that time, in Milwaukee as in most cities, chiefs of both departments were appointed by the mayor, who used these appointments, and the appointment of police officers, as a form of political patronage. Between 1855 and 1885, Milwaukee had eight police chiefs, including one who was appointed three times in that period. The new law made the civilian Board of Commissioners responsible for setting employment standards and testing candidates for positions in both safety services, and responsible for appointing both chiefs. The Commission's authority and responsibility are specified in Wisconsin Statute 62.50, and in the Milwaukee City Charter.
What the Fire and Police Commission Does
There are very few citizen oversight agencies in the United States that are authorized to conduct the significant responsibilities that the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission undertakes on a daily basis. Commission functions include oversight of recruitment and testing standards for positions in the Fire and Police Departments; hearing appeals by members of either Department who have been disciplined by their Chief; independently investigating and monitoring citizen complaints together with disciplining employees for misconduct; and general policy, standards, and rules oversight. Staff members, headed by an Executive Director, are responsible for carrying out Commission functions. Staff members are employees of the City of Milwaukee.
Recruitment and Testing
Since 1885, no person has been appointed to any position in either the Police Department or the Fire Department without Board approval. The Board has a long-standing commitment to ensuring the Public Safety workforce is representative of the Milwaukee community.
Following Commission standards, Department of Employee Relations staff develop and administer a variety of examinations, including written, physical ability and oral tests, a background investigation, a medical examination, a psychological examination, and drug screening. Applicants who pass all components are hired according to their total score on an Eligible List. Firefighters and Police Officers are hired at intervals for training classes; other entry-level positions are filled as vacancies occur.
When the position of Chief becomes vacant in either Department, the Commission determines qualifications, solicits applications, and appoints the new Chief. Chiefs of both Departments are hired for four-year terms, renewable at the Commission's discretion.
Disciplinary Appeals
Members of the Fire and Police Departments may appeal to the Commission if they believe they have been unfairly dismissed, demoted, or suspended for more than five days. Disciplinary appeals are heard by a panel of Board members. The panel may sustain, modify, or deny the Chief's action.
Citizen Complaints
The Fire and Police Commission has full authority to independently investigate and discipline department employees up to and including termination from employment for acts of misconduct. A person may file a complaint against an employee of the fire or police department for specific acts of inappropriate conduct. Complaints can be initiated in writing, in person, by telephone, by fax, by e-mail, through recognized community referral organizations, or through the Fire and Police Commission website.
Policy Oversight
The Board has a statutory responsibility to oversee and prescribe the policies and standards of both the Fire and Police Departments. This oversight authority is an important function of the Board. The Board also has authority to make internal operating rules for both Departments, but currently delegates this authority to the Chief of each Department. Any new or changed rule requires Commission review and approval before it can be implemented.
Michael G. Tobin, Executive Director
Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission
200 E. Wells Street, Room 706-A, Milwaukee WI 53202
414-286-5000
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May 2008