The Madison Professional Police Officers Association (MPPOA) “take a stand” and advise the mayor on how she should have written her press releases and suggests she educate herself. They say she is “fueling the flames of discord and anger”.The memo comes from the Board of Directors, but they do not include the names of who is on that Board of Directors.
LETTER
Madison Professional Police Officers Association
Local No. I, Wisconsin Professional Police Association
Box 1188
Madison , Wisconsin 53701
Mayor Rhodes-Conway,
We offer the following on behalf of the women and men of the Madison Professional Police Officers Association, not only to discuss missed opportunities, but to suggest how we can move forward. It is possible for you to support those who are protesting in favor of police reform, while also supporting your police department. Now is not the time for dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric or taking sides. Not only does that hurt morale, it also damages the positive relationships that our officers have worked and continue to work so hard to develop with the residents of our city. You had an opportunity to extol the virtues of your police department, but instead chose to fall into the trap of repeating misguided tal king points that serve no purpose but to divide. We are taking a stand to protect those positive relationships that we have already established in our community and those we hope to make in the future. We cannot allow those connections to be destroyed by incendiary and divisive words and actions.
In your press release on June 8th, 2020, titled “Now Is the Time for Change,” you wrote that you are “committed to….moving the work of police reform and greater social justice forward”. You also wrote that you will be “talking with the Police and Fire Commission (PFC) to explore how best to select a permanent chief of police for the MPD who can carry this work forward”. These misleading statements suggest the Madison Police Department is not already working toward or committed to police reform and social justice. It should have read that you will be “talking with the Police and Fire Commission (PFC) to explore how best to select a permanent chief of police for the MPD who can continue to carry this work forward”.
You also mentioned, “[your] office is working to make sure that the Madison Police Department’s use of force policies are aligned with the Campaign Zero “8 Can’t Wait” initiative’s recommendations”. You mentioned that these initiatives “are the right thing to do”. What you failed to acknowledge is that the MPD, as astutely noted by Acting Chief Vic Wahl in his blog, has had standard operating procedures that address each of these “recommendations” in place for years and we already align with the initiative’s recommendations . Mayor, please take the time to read our standard operating procedures and get to know the women and men who make up your police department.
These last couple of week s, you had an opportunity to remind people about how your progressive police department has been a leader for years in adopting initiatives that many other law enforcement agencies are just now looking to implement. Instead, you chose to use your words to fuel the flames of discord and anger at a time when we should be coming together as a community. We ask that you please educate yourself about your police department and, in the future, please choose your words judiciously.
It is possible to appreciate the hard work and dedication to the community exhibited by the Madison Police Department while also supporting and encouraging that of the protesters and their efforts for police reform and social justice. We can and should all work together toward positive change, and you have the power to unite us.
Respectfully,
The MPPOA Board of Directors
WHO IS ON THE BOARD OF MPPOA? WHO SIGNED THIS LETTER?
They don’t share much on their website. 
You have to sign in to get information. Their site doesn’t really work in Safari, I used Firefox and this is the most I could figure out without an account:
Welcome from MPPOA President Kelly Powers
Greetings and welcome to the website of the Madison Professional Police Officers Association (MPPOA).
As President of the MPPOA I take great pride in representing the officers, investigators, detectives, and sergeants of the Madison Police Department. The MPPOA consists of an elected board of directors. There are 10 members of the board, 9 of whom are elected to a 3-year term (3 members are up for re-election each year), and 1 member who serves a one-year term. The MPPOA is a proud member of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. The MPPOA maintains and funds a political action committee and works with the WPPA PAC on a State and local level to facilitate change and advocate for Law Enforcement related legislation.
My goals as President are to advocate for proper staffing levels, safe working conditions, fair pay and benefits, and the fair treatment of all of our members. In order to achieve these goals I focus on communication with the membership that will best address the needs and goals of the union. We operate in an industry filled with challenges, and when our members need advocacy their union representation should be there to ensure their rights are addressed in the best way possible.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the MPPOA’s Web site, please feel free to contact me:
Madison Professional Police Officers Association
P.O. Box 1188
Madison, WI 53701
Sincerely,
Kelly Powers
When I tried to click on the link to the Board of Directors I got this:
SO, AS THE CHAIR OF THE PSRC I SIGNED UP FOR AN ACCOUNT
Not a chance in hell they will give me one. It was a bit of a disturbing experience. I feel like its just more surveillance of the community. And it left me wondering, what do they have to hide?
Also, ugh, this is a required field and these are the only two options – seriously. Why do they even need this information and what is its purpose?
I anxiously await their approval rejection.
Brenda, shut up, you’re no worse than the mayor. Quit your bitchin. This asks for the same thing when leaving a comment so you’re a hypocrite.
Lol wow. Censorship at its finest. Progressive my a$$. Deleting comments. Shame on you.
Just fyi I have exposed my previous comment and your hypocrisy, that you ask for the same info to leave a comment when entering their site. As much as I support law enforcement, I really hope they do away with departments so I can see who you call when someone breaks into your home or mugs you. Sheep’s are eaten by wolves when the sheepdogs aren’t around. Which one are you?
Lol again? You guys are the real fox news. Media Gestapo. Are you afraid of people finding out the truth?
This is from April 2019, but a list of the MPPOA board is on page 7 of their most recent Form 990:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/whg2pqst98bi26j/1904309_MPPOA_ANNUALREPORT_2019.pdf?dl=0