School resource officers in MPS; judge orders city, district split cost

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee County judge ordered on Monday, Feb. 17, that Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee must split the cost of putting school resource officers in schools – and that they have 10 days to comply with his order. 

The backstory:

Back in 2023, a law allowing Milwaukee to implement a sales tax also required that MPS put 25 SROs in schools by January 2024.

When that didn't happen, a parent sued and a new deadline was set for Feb. 17.

Why hadn't a deal been made yet? The district was still negotiating about who would pay for the officers. Last week, members of the MPS board gave an update on where negotiations stand.

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"Right now we have an offer on the table with the city: 33% plus training. We’ve offered to go to mediation. And so that’s where it stands right now. So, now we’re waiting," said MPS board member Missy Zombor.

Late last year, a parent sued the district for missing the deadline.

And a judge ruled in favor of that parent- and put Monday's deadline in place. If the city and MPS don't comply, they could face contempt and fines.

What they're saying:

Milwaukee Public Schools

"Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) remains ready to implement a School Resource Officer (SRO) program as soon as officers are made available to the district. MPS anticipates the arrival of School Resource Officers within ten days as ordered by the court. As the judge noted there was a gap in the law related to the apportionment of funding, which the judge addressed today. In accordance with the judge’s ruling, MPS will request Board action to allocate the necessary funds to cover 50% of the city’s $1,591,959 cost, totaling $795,979, and to share the SRO training expenses equally."

Jeff Fleming, Milwaukee Director of Communications and Public Engagement

"Today’s ruling fairly resolves the most significant issue holding up the deployment of school resource officers in a manner consistent with the most recent offer the city shared with MPS. The city is prepared to finalize a memorandum of understanding with MPS and fully comply with the training requirements set forth in state statutes.  We anticipate working with the judge and others to fully and fairly implement the program."

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Milwaukee Board of School Directors

"This afternoon, Judge Borowski ordered that the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Schools split the cost of SROs 50/50 and that an SRO program be in place within 10 days.

"Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) remains ready to implement a School Resource Officer (SRO) program as soon as officers are made available to the district. MPS anticipates the arrival of School Resource Officers within ten days as ordered by the court. As the judge noted there was a gap in the law related to the apportionment of funding, which the judge addressed today. In accordance with the judge’s ruling, MPS will request Board action to allocate the necessary funds to cover 50% of the city’s $1,591,959 cost, totaling $795,979, and to share the SRO training expenses equally."

Charlene Abughrin, MPS parent that filed the lawsuit

"We couldn’t ask for a better outcome, I think. I’m very hopeful, because they see that the judge is not playing any games with them now that they will get this done."

What's next:

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David Borowski ordered for the next hearing, in 10 days, that the MPS board president or vice president be in the courtroom, as well as the mayor or a designee.