Milwaukee police bodycam release procedure; awaiting decision

MPD video release policy, awaiting decision

Between now and March 29, a judge will rule on the Milwaukee Police Department's video release policy.

MILWAUKEE - It was touted as improving transparency, but the future of Milwaukee police's video policy is now up in the air.

The case is about who gets video, and when, of police situations that seriously hurt or kill people.

On Monday, March 18, the judge presiding over the case said she will issue her decision between now and the end of the month.

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Milwaukee police bodycam release procedure

A decision is expected between now and the end of March in the ongoing debacle over releasing body camera footage of critical incidents involving Milwaukee police officers.

On May 5th of 2023 on the city's near south side, gunfire erupted in two separate places as people celebrated Cinco de Mayo.

Two police officers shot and hurt two people.

It was the first test of the city's new video release policy. Under that policy, video should've been released to the family of the people hurt within 48 hours. The public would have gotten to see it within 15 days.

Via the MPD

But a week after that shooting, a Milwaukee County Judge put that policy on hold.

Prior to the policy, there was nothing in writing. MPD would typically release edited video of incidents within roughly 45 days.

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC) approved the formalized policy last April.

"This is a major step forward for the city of Milwaukee," said former FPC Chair Ed Fallone on April 20, 2023, after the FPC approved the new policy. "Citizen oversight of police and public safety works."

But the Milwaukee Police Association sued the next day.

"I don’t believe the city, the FPC, has the right to issue a standard operating procedure," MPA President Andrew Wagner said.

It argues the city's required to bargain with the union over the policy. The city's position is it gave the union an open door to meet about the policy, but the union said those talks were premature and chose not to meet.

The lawsuit's changed hands with several judges since, and is now before Judge Brittany Grayson.

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Judge Grayson heard arguments in the case in January. She initially said her decision could come as early as today (March 18), but then said it would be handed down between now and March 29.