Madison Police Chief Calls for Police Officers to Return to MMSD Schools

MADISON, Wis. – Madison’s police chief has called for resource officers to return to the city’s schools. 

On Wednesday, a 14-year-old boy shot and killed four people at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Nine more were hurt. 

School resource officers were able to find the shooter within minutes, and he surrendered. 

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes released a statement saying he wants to have resource officers back in Madison schools. 

The Madison School Board unanimously voted to remove police from district schools in 2020. A report showed far more Black students had interactions with school resource officers than white students. At the time, board members said they wanted to remove the school-to-prison pipeline. 

Now, the Office of School Safety handles duties that used to be assigned to school resource officers. They do walk-throughs of the buildings, and come help teachers and students when needed. Since the pandemic, the school district has also added more mental health positions in schools. 

“While these professionals play a crucial role in supporting the mental health and well-being of students, they are not equipped to handle armed individuals who pose a threat to the safety of students and staff,” Barnes said in his statement. “We cannot expect them (or our amazing teachers) to confront an active shooter or potentially dangerous situation.”

Barnes was a public schoolteacher, and a school resource officer. 

During the 2022-23 school year, Madison police responded to more than 800 calls to MMSD schools.