Our organization receives free office space from the university in exchange for hiring paid student interns and for providing services and educational resources for students. Wisconsin Watch collaborates with, but is independent of, the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication, where it is housed. Our legal name is Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (WCIJ Inc.). We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization operated by a professional staff under the guidance of a nationally noted board of directors. We collaborate and share our content with mainstream and niche media across the Wisconsin and the nation. We currently have reporters based in Madison, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh, and have other members of our robust editorial and business teams located across the state. Our work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy. We increase the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Wisconsin Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative news outlet. Mission Statement with Coverage PrioritiesĮditorial Standards Page Reading Time: 4 minutes.“We’re just moving right from that into a form of what I would consider federal accreditation,” Flynn said. Flynn said going through that process was “labor-intensive” and “time-consuming” but should make the department well-prepared for federal authorities. When Flynn requested the federal review, it came soon after the department received state accreditation by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group Inc. Then they spend a year to 18 months following up with the agency and seeing what recommendations have been implemented. In a review such as the one that will be done in Milwaukee, federal authorities typically do an initial six-month assessment and give recommendations. “Despite my desire for the full pattern-and-practice investigation, I still welcome the COPS process being undertaken, with the hope that it will lead to identification of ongoing systemic problems and maybe result in positive changes,” he said. Jonathan Safran, attorney for the Hamilton family, said he would like to see the pattern-and-practice investigation, but thinks there can be benefit from the review that will be done. After he announced he was seeking the review, Flynn said it would not necessarily “inoculate” his department from such an investigation.īut Flynn also said it was his belief the Justice Department would not grant his request if the Civil Rights Division was considering a pattern and practice investigation.įlynn announced his request last month on the same day federal prosecutors said they would not file criminal civil rights charges against the former Milwaukee police officer who shot and killed Dontre Hamilton. The fact that the Justice Department has granted Milwaukee’s request for a voluntary review doesn’t mean a pattern and practice investigation could not be launched in the future. “Collaborative Reform is neither a formal investigation nor a consent decree but rather a ‘proactive, nonadversarial and cost-effective form of technical assistance’ for agencies committed to reform,” the police department said in a statement Tuesday. A “pattern-and-practice” lawsuit by the federal government can lead to federal oversight of a local law enforcement agency for years. Departments under a collaborative review are not legally required to change. The key difference is the requirement for change. Milwaukee is the ninth department to be granted the voluntary review, known as a “collaborative reform initiative.” The process is a less adversarial option than a consent decree - formal monitoring through the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division resulting from a “pattern-and-practice” investigation. Mayor Tom Barrett and Flynn also will attend. Attorney Gregory Haanstad and Ronald Davis, director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The agreement will be formally announced Thursday by Acting U.S. The announcement comes after a request by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn. Department of Justice announced Tuesday it has agreed to review the Milwaukee Police Department, a process expected to take two years and cover all aspects of the agency.
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