Speaking on the very first first night of protests in Madison in May, Interim Police Chief Vic Wahl said that the department’s use of tear gas was their best method for dispersing or moving a crowd — even during a pandemic. Exposure to tear gas, and to pepper spray, can cause burning and teary eyes, […]
New Madison Police Chief unlikely before December
According to a draft timeline of the selection process, the Madison Board of Police and Fire Commissioners intends to select a new permanent Chief of Police by the end of this year. That’s nearly double the timeline proposed by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, who says she wants a new chief to be selected in the next […]
A spike in fender benders? MPD issues accountability report
The Madison Police Department has released its accountability report for 2019. The report details internal conduct violations, use of force information and formal complaints issued against department officers. The MPD has faced criticism in the past for its lack of transparency. Last October, a citizen Ad Hoc Committee suggested 177 changes to the department’s operations. […]
Podcast short: At capacity
We’re changing up the Tone Madison podcast feed, bringing you short episodes every other week between our usual, longer episodes. On this short, Tone Madison editor Scott Gordon and contributor/producer Shaun Soman discuss the confusion over Art In’s capacity limits and the upcoming album from producer/DJ Sage Caswell, who spins Saturday, February 16 at Robinia […]
No Police At Pride?
This Sunday is Madison’s annual OutReach Pride Parade, but what should be a celebratory event has recently come under some controversy over whether Madison Police should be allowed to formally participate in the event. After last year’s parade, some members of the LGBTQ+ community and communities of color objected to the number of armed, uniformed […]
Madison Police Department to Upgrade Equipment
Drones, tanks, and heavy armored vehicles. The Madison Police Department is making some changes in their hardware and equipment, including buying a couple new drones. In March, Madison police received a report of a missing disabled teen. To find the teen as quickly as possible, police borrowed drones from a neighboring department to aid in […]