We acknowledge the cumulative weight of our history
Like many institutions in the United States, policing has an uneven history. A legacy of harm persists in systems, hearts and minds today. There are reasons why those we serve from marginalized communities experience fear, anxiety and anger when it comes to police. Some examples:
Black & Latinx people disproportionately experience use of force by police officers
Additionally, research shows police officers are more likely to stop Black and Latinx people multiple times annually compared to White people. When they do, trends suggest police officers speak significantly less respectfully to Black people than White people irrespective of officer race, severity of the infraction and outcome of the stop.
LGBTQ individuals are overrepresented at every level of the criminal justice system, from juvenile justice to parole
Additionally, research finds transgender people of color report higher rates of harassment during contacts with police than White transgender people.
UWPD is not immune as it relates to the problematic history of policing
Understanding our own tainted history and creating mechanisms for continuous assessment and improvement is essential to cultivating community trust.
* see data collected by Gallup here
** see report by The Sentencing Project here
Welcome to the Conversation
On behalf of all of us at the UW-Madison Police Department, thank you for taking the time to learn about the work we do to keep our campus community safe.
This dashboard is the result of more than a year of collaboration through our Racial Equity Initiative. We’ve worked hard with our Police Advisory Council and various community stakeholders to find ways that our department can be even more transparent about our work on the UW-Madison campus. The UWPD Equity Dashboard is one of those ways. It’s a means to present key data sets about our department, the calls we respond to, complaints, and more – all with a laser-focus on equity.
We hope you find the dashboard useful and a demonstration of our never-ending commitment to building trust and deepening partnerships. Again, welcome to the conversation – we’re glad you’re here.
A few points to consider…
- The data presented in this dashboard is updated quarterly.
- Our data collection processes are reviewed by three separate accreditation bodies to ensure accuracy and integrity.
- We commit to finding ways to continuously improve the Equity Dashboard — as such, your feedback is appreciated.
UWPD: Our People
Diversity is a value at UWPD and, consistent with UW-Madison’s statement on diversity, we view it as a strength that improves our ability to serve our campus community. We are committed to ensuring our entire department appropriately reflects the campus community across a range of backgrounds and identities. View our current organizational chart here.
Data shown is from 2021
police calls for service
Initiated Calls
Officer Initiated (Proactive)
Community Initiated (Reactive)
These calls highlighted based on community feedback, frequently asked questions and local/national trends
Equity in Practice
UWPD is committed to fostering the conditions needed to achieve and maintain equity. This means
regularly evaluating our policies and training with a focus on achieving equitable outcomes. It also means actively seeking out
opportunities to collaborate with campus and community partners to enhance safety.
Policy
Policies represent a set of expectations for which UWPD officers are accountable across a range of things they do — including managing emergencies, writing reports, and interacting with community members.
Training
Training is an important part of making sure new and continuing UWPD officers are fully prepared to interact with the public in ways that yield the safest and most productive outcomes possible.
Restorative Justice
UWPD is one of the most active participants in the Dane County Community Restorative Court (CRC) program.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
UWPD hired its first Executive Director of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion in 2019 to ensure DEI principles are a part of everything we do as a department.
Triple Accreditation
UWPD is the only agency in the State of Wisconsin to be triply accredited. To maintain accreditation, UWPD submits to a regular review process conducted by an independent third party.
Mental Health Response
We recognize mental health as a serious issue for our society and community. Through training and collaboration with campus partners, we are committed to addressing this issue thoughtfully.
Ways to Get Involved
Police Advisory Council
Formed in 2017, the Police Advisory Council (PAC) is a campus community advisory group that meets regularly to discuss and review a range of department and campus-related topics. The PAC is comprised of stakeholders from across the UW–Madison community.
Help Us Train
UWPD officers are required to participate in a number of trainings throughout the year. Volunteers can enhance the quality of these trainings by serving as role players, discussion panelists, etc.
Officer Ride-Alongs
A ride-along is a unique opportunity to learn about what UWPD officers do on a day-to-day basis. This can be a great way to gain perspective about campus policing -- whether you are an interested community member or even someone interested in joining our team.
Hiring and Promotional Panelists
At UWPD, we are only as good as our people. Community perspectives are valued when it comes to evaluating applicants for a variety of positions at the department.
UWPD Community Academy
Participants in the UWPD Community Academy get an immersive experience designed to teach them about department, including training. The UWPD Community Academy is still in its developmental stages -- stay tuned for more information on how to become a participant.
Internships
For people who are interested in working at a police department or related area, UWPD hosts internships. Typically extending a summer, six months, or one year, interns have the opportunity to learn about the department, expand their career network, and gain valuable experience across different aspects of our operations.
Get in Touch
If you have questions or feedback, we want to hear from you.