Wow. I’m not sure what to say. More tomorrow. This is a glimpse into the bullying tactics of the police department with the elected officials.
From: Koval, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 8:42 AM
To: All Alders
Cc: PD GROUP
Subject: Feedback From Chief KovalAlders~
As the City has been through a lot over the past l0 days, an uneasy peace has settled in until we await the next seminal decision from the District Attorney’s Office. The tension on the streets is palpable and my officers are doing the best they can to remain pro-active and relational. Not an easy task given the various veiled and stark threats to police officers that have been made through various social media networks and on the streets. I have challenged my officers to stay true to our values, adhere to our training in situational awareness, and to resist the urge to adopt a “bunker” mindset. The women and men of MPD have done more than their share of risk taking for this community and it is high time you did yours!
In the course of a few days (from March 13-last night’s Common Council meeting), I have seen you muster to create a letter to the family of Tony Robinson as well as to hastily convene a public “hearing” for those who want to express their views. While the letter of condolences to the family of Tony Robinson was entirely appropriate (I did the same thing), there was no mention of support—either in that letter or in any corresponding letter which could have been circulated at the same time—acknowledging the exceptional steps taken by women and men of MPD in doing their part to maintain public safety while facilitating robust dissent. Last night, I sat patiently listening to people accusing MPD of everything from being sanctioned murderers to racists. Given the nature of the proceedings, I was left with no recourse to respond to any of these diatribes, falsehoods and shock value missives. One of my responsibilities is to defend those valued employees—sworn and non-sworn—that take pride in providing a premium service to the citizens and guests of our City. People can attack me all they want—I’m old and what service time I have left is not going to be deterred by fringe elements who foist themselves upon me with righteous indignation. But I have a duty to speak up when the good people who work for me have to contend with unchecked, unilateral attacks on them and the legacy of the MPD . . .and I failed them by not being able to go to bat for them under the constraints of the hearing protocols last night. In short, your collective silence is DEAFENING and that is why I chose to write to you today. Don’t think that I haven’t noticed or that my employees haven’t noticed—we have!
It is unacceptable for elected officials to remain silent while an institution like the MPD is sullied with drive-by disrespect. The practice of whispering in my ear in the hallways of the CCB, sending me a text, or giving me a phone call saying “Stay the course, Chief. We support you” won’t hack it anymore. You must be more public and more intentional about support for the MPD and our employees. Of course, if you don’t feel that way, stand down as we only want those who believe in the authenticity of our work to speak up. But at the end of the day, I am not an elected official who worries about my polling numbers—when this sort of reticence surfaces, there will be pushback from me.
While there were many various topics raised last night, the one substantive item that raised questions was the willingness to open up the MPD Policies and Procedures Manual for independent review. Have at it. Those substantive elements being discussed last night on the use of force are the same template used throughout the State of Wisconsin. At the outset, it should be noted that the overwhelming number of cases we respond to our resolved through presence and dialogue. Period. Given the ever-increasing violent nature of our society, we train diligently on the use of force. A plethora of time is given to non-lethal alternatives and tools. Deadly force training include countless reps of disengagement, movement, distance, and cover. Furthermore, we incorporate numerous training exercises where the outcome is predicated on “no shoot” outcomes. Graham v. Connor is the U.S. Supreme Court case that dictates what constitutes whether police used excessive force (the test is an objective one, that of “objective reasonableness.”). While we are always looking to adopt best practices in how use of force outcomes can be improved, we will not be departing from the same standards that govern police use of force across this state (and country). By the way, MPD has never had a “shoot to kill” mantra. . .
I would be happy to have the Public Safety Review Committee (PSRC) examine all of our policies to check for concerns that may lead to unintended consequences. Or, if there is a different entity that you would like to have review responsibilities, that would be fine with me as well.
I close with this. Police and citizens alike are expected to conform to rules. The decorum that I witnessed last night where certain people were allowed to trammel those rules with a gentle admonishment to respect the rights and minutes of others was laughable. My suggestion is that the rules of order should apply to everyone or those in non-compliance should incur the consequences. The hearing became a kangaroo court and while you don’t care what civics looks like on cable television, I do.
Respectfully~
Michael C. Koval, Chief of Police
Madison Police Department
211 S. Carroll Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Call me crazy, but if you’re tough enough to wield the power of life and death over your fellow citizens, you should be tough enough to be criticized without whining about it.
I don’t see Chief Koval as whining, just very, very defensive. He’s got to be exhausted and is worthy of being given time to vent and express concerns. YGB has dynamic speakers in its totally committed and articulate circle of leadership. I heard them exclaiming in anger and agony about what’s gone on here, and they need to be heard. When nerves are this frayed, compassion is in short supply. Perhaps if everyone got a good night’s rest, ate a decent breakfast, took a few deep breaths (meditated? prayed?) and had a chance to state and restate his and her positions, some progress might be made. But continuing to escalate at this point seems counterproductive. Please consider participating in a citizens’ forum, “Justice for Tony” to be held at Villager Mall on 3/21. I will post more details as they become available.
I was there last nite, this was one of 3 meetings people were navigating through. In one of the committee meetings, the HHN, people’s voices were been suppressed. Here they came to vent. The tone of the HHN was horrific!!
I didn’t find any of it laughable, and that includes the City Council meeting! Very serious matters were brought up to the table. Once again very poor choice of words from someone like you in a position of power.
How do we help this man?
Why is he so defensive of a killer?
Wow … “drive-by disrespect.” That’s where I stopped reading.
he’s defending every man and woman that works for him, while the “community” is out throwing mud at the entire department, and him personally.
why are you attacking a police officer as a “killer” when the “victim” assaulted several other people that night, and had a criminal history of doing the same? why is the officer automatically guilty of “murder” when he defends himself from a criminal? why is the criminal not responsible for the results of his own actions?
call me crazy, but hundreds of people screaming in your face that you’re a murderer because you killed a criminal that was attacking you.
Or better, screaming in your face that if you don’t convict the officer of murder they’re going to burn the city down and it’s your fault for not convicting?
or, even better, screaming in your face that you’re a murderer because one of your employees defended himself from a criminal?
that’s not “criticizing” i don’t even have words for that.
“criticism” is something you might hear from a teacher, or a boss. if my childs teacher spoke to him like this i’d sue the school so fast they’d get whiplash.
if my boss spoke to me like this, i’d do the same.
stack threats, racist diatribes, factless, baseless accusations from people with no understanding of legal acceptable use of force on top of that, and i’d say his response was quite calm and measured =)
Mike, I know you’re upset. You have every right to be given the baseless abuse you’ve had to deal with. I can offer the immortal words of Mark Twain as comfort.
“Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”
Watch the meeting that he is responding to, it is nothing like you describe, not even close.
What video are you watching?
Will you be posting the details on this thread, or isthmus.com? Also, do you know if Chief Koval has been invited to the forum? Or PO Greg Rosetti? I am aware that he has experience with restorative justice in youth court in Madison. I hope others with experience with this process are able to step forward and help direct the energy towards real progress, and take Koval up on his invitation for “the Public Safety Review Committee (PSRC) [to] examine all of our policies to check for concerns that may lead to unintended consequences. Or, if there is a different entity that you would like to have review responsibilities, that would be fine… as well.”
Anger isn’t a rational thing. Emotional Awareness by the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman is excellent reading on that topic. I agree that Chief Koval hasn’t gotten the respect he deserves. But the same can be said of people who have been systematically oppressed and silenced for so many years. Moving forward will require less name-calling and blaming and more work towards building trust and mutual understanding.
**Rand Paul groupie trolling alert** (ahem)
Some comments, regardless of how long winded, still amount to some people simply not willing to admit, or own the fact that citizens do not feel safe or protected by the police. People are tired of excuse after excuse, (and in secret, a celebration), and are fed up with how trigger happy, or simply untrained, unable to rationally think under pressure cops give defense after defense. It does not add up!
Stop telling us what we are seeing, hearing, and what we should or should not do in this situation! Stop running from the truth that race and class and sex are HUGE issues for most police departments.
I read recently that while there are a very high, (and rising) number of “controversial” incidents and complaints, it’s actually a small number of officers involved in these reports and complaints. There are bad apples. Face it. They’re the few with the attitude, the ego, the bragging, the bullying, something-to-prove types we all see, in every industry and line of work. But when it comes to our police force, we’re saying hell no! We want our police officers to PROTECT us from the real bad guys. It’s what your job is! But generating revenue and maintaining the unwritten code of silence has become the focus.
For every bad cop, there are hundreds more good cops. We get that. We know that. We see that. So do not equate speaking up, or protesting, or angrily presenting to a panel as “hate”! Hate is easy. It’s streamlined and efficient. We are working just as hard as the next guy and would not go out of our way just to go hate.
We are mad and have every right to be mad. We’re dissatisfied and have every right to be. If all this commotion is weighing so heavily on the morale of the “good cops”, well then perhaps it’s a perfect time for them to step up, honor the profession and speak up on our behalf. It’s an unfair that some get dragged down, but it’s also the inevitable consequence of choosing to accept unskilled, unstable cops. Raise the standard already!
He’s a public servant. That’s the job he signed up for.
What did you directly witness in regards to this killing?
Nothing?
I see.
What celebrations on the part of police officers in regards to these killings have you witnessed?
None?
I see.
What non-anecdotal evidence do you have that “people” (implied by your post to be a majority) do not feel protected by the police or safe around them?
None?
I see.
What evidence do you have that the cops who committed any of these recent killings are possessed of an “attitude,” or braggadocio, or dangerously inflated egos, are “something-to-prove-types,” or are bullies?
None?
I see.
You are exactly the kind of low-information demagogue that the chief is speaking of.
Good letter in almost all respects, but this –
“Given the ever-increasing violent nature of our society”
is utter crap, by any statistical record keeping by FBI or CDC. Big DECLINE over the past 20yrs. Recent outbursts by a grossly ignorant, racist and systematically deconstructed portion of our society notwithstanding.
Excellent message, Chief. The loudest voices are not the rational ones and your department enjoys the confidence of the majority. Stay the course.
Brenda, you were videotaping Chief Koval’s Feb.16 presentation at Meadowood. Did you miss the black neighborhood leader who said that Madison police were welcome in her neighborhood? Didn’t see it.