Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Room 215, 6:30 pm

Information in italics has been added to the original.

April 13 & 17, 2026

Dear All, 

Six years ago, together we ensured that anyone who experiences a harmful encounter with MPD would have access to an investigatory process independent of MPD and city politicians through the creation of the Office of the Independent Police Monitor (OIPM) and the Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB). We cannot thank you enough!

What makes the OIPM/PCOB mechanism effective and one of the strongest in the nation is its diversity and independence from the city. It is under constant threat of political “capture”.

I am writing to ask you if you have 10 minutes to come back to the table for a council meeting on April 21st? It would require the same steps you took six years ago: 

1. Check into the event on the Community Response Team facebook page for details: https://www.facebook.com/share/1NFEoGmZHH/

2. Email your alder asking they vote against all amendments to the OIPM/PCOB ordinances.

Find My Alder by street address. You can send comments on agenda items to allalders@cityofmadison.com.

3. For the April 21st meeting, register against the amendments and speak if you wish. 

If you want to speak at a meeting or register your position on an agenda item, you must register for public comment.

Choose Common Council 04/21/2026 6:30pm Item #55 and click “Oppose.”

4. Please recruit at least 3 other people to do the same. 

What amendments? What ordinance? The detailed story is on our FB event and in a PDF below my signature, but the short version is this: 

A couple of alders proposed amendments to OIPM/PCOB’s ordinances that would undermine their independence and make it impossible for them to function properly.

• One amendment would end OIPM’s right of access to MPD databases and restrict access to MPD records. This is inconsistent with the national standard.
• A second amendment would restrict OIPM/PCOB’s right to use an independent attorney, requiring use of the City Attorney despite a structural conflict of interest. It would also require OIPM/PCOB to comply with all city administration policies, even when they undermine its function and independence. 
• Yet another amendment would place an elected official on the PCOB, eliminating PCOB independence. 

While the OIPM and PCOB had a rocky start, they corrected what wasn’t working, hired a new Independent Monitor, and are rapidly making positive headway. They are investigating and resolving complaints against MPD officers, generating novel findings on problematic MPD patterns and practices, and addressing Madison’s stark racial disparities in policing outcomes. They need to be allowed to do their work, independently. The City Council continues to threaten their ability to function and wastes their meeting time with harmful amendments. We hope you’ll join us in overwhelming their inboxes in protest and urging them to meet the needs of the OIPM/PCOB.

I can tell you what it is like to never have had access to an objective and independent investigatory process. I also never thought I’d need it. No one ever does.

Thank you for your assistance with this effort. It will not happen without you.

In Solidarity, 

Amelia Royko Maurer
Co-Member, The Community Response Team
roykomaurer@mac.com

Explanation of Opposition to Proposed OIPM/PCOB Amendments, 4/21/2026

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• Download PDF
• OIPM ordinance 5.19
• PCOB ordinance 5.20