Six years ago this March, Matt Kenny, a Madison Police officer, shot and killed Sharon Irwin-Henry’s grandson in a house on Williamson Street. The killing of Tony Terrell Robinson attracted national attention, and Robinson’s name still echoes throughout Madison to this day. “Before Terrell died, all of these people were getting killed, all these Black […]
Shon Barnes sworn in as Madison’s new top cop
This morning, Shon Barnes was sworn in as Madison’s new Chief of Police. Barnes will be replacing outgoing Chief of Police Vic Wahl, who’s served as the interim head of the department for the past sixteen months since the abrupt departure of former chief Mike Koval in 2019. Barnes most recently worked with the Civilian […]
Madison Police Prepare for Potential Armed Protests
Police in Madison are beefing up security around the state Capitol after a warning from the FBI earlier this week, in anticipation of right-wing protests in Madison and beyond. The memo warned of possible armed protests at state capitals in the days around President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday — continued fall-out from President Trump’s […]
In 2020, MPD deployed chemical weapons in record amounts
The Madison Police Department deployed more tear gas during Black Lives Matter protests in late May and early June than they did in the prior 16 years combined. Over just three days and nights from May 30th to June 1st, officers deployed 62 clouds of tear gas: 53 canisters of tear gas thrown by hand […]
Four finalists announced for new Madison Police Chief
Since September of last year, Vic Wahl has served as Madison’s interim Chief of Police while the city has hunted for its new top police officer. Wahl was thrust into that position after former Police Chief Mike Koval abruptly resigned from the position with a one-day notice. Now, Wahl is ready to hang up his […]
City Council punts ban on tear gas
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, […]
