Wisconsin Police Journal July 2019 • Vol. 87, No. 3 The Official Publication of the Wisconsin Professional Police AssociationWisconsin Professional Police Association July 2019 • Vol. 87, No. 3 OFFICERS President – Todd Hoover, Racine Vice President – Nichelle Nelson Waukesha Treasurer – Mike Chinander, Eau Claire Secretary – Sergeant at Arms – Steven Bartels , Waukesha DIRECTORS Brian Barbour – Oneida County James Brigham – Dane County Don Burrows – Polk County Sgts William Chesen – Retirees Jeffrey Darst – Superior Danielle Engen – Onalaska Dan Frei – Madison Dale Gerbig, II – La Crosse Justin Greuel – Eau Claire Mark Hollister – Chippewa County Ted Knoeck – Marathon County Dennis LeCaptain – Janesville Travis Levandowski – Portage County Kurt Pierce – Dane County Sups. Terry Pockat – Onedia County Tom Poss – Appleton Kelly Powers – Madison Robert Richardson – Dane County Andrew Rosenow – La Crosse Trevor Rud – Pepin County Nick Stachula – West Allis Travis Tuttle – Fond du Lac EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James L. Palmer, II GENERAL OPERATIONS OFFICE 660 John Nolen Dr., Suite 300, Madison WI 53713 (608) 273-3840; (800) 362-8838; (608) 273-3904 Fax Web Site: www.wppa.com Editor and Design : Julie Neeley Printing : Thysse Printing; Oregon, WI 53575 CORRESPONDENCE Address all magazine editorial correspondence to: WPPA, 660 John Nolen Dr., Suite 300, Madison WI 53713. POSTMASTER : send address changes to: Wisconsin Police Journal 660 John Nolen Dr., Suite 300, Madison, WI 53713 ABOUT THE WISCONSIN POLICE JOURNAL The WISCONSIN POLICE JOURNAL (ISSN 1086-5187) Vol. 87, No. 3 is owned and published by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, 660 John Nolen Dr., Suite 300, Madison, WI 53713. The WISCONSIN POLICE JOURNAL is published quarterly (January, April, July, and October) and is circulated to dues-paying members of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. Members’ subscriptions are included in dues. For retirees and non-members, the subscription price is $12 per year. Subscriptions will be accepted only from bona fide law enforcement officers and students enrolled in law enforcement. COPYRIGHT & POSTAGE Periodical Postage Paid at Madison, Wisconsin, and additional mailing offices. Material contained herein shall not be reproduced in any form without express advanced written permission. Manuscripts and photos will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed, stamped envelope. Copyright© 2019 Wisconsin Professional Police Association Purposes And Aims Of The Wisconsin Police Journal The Official Publication of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association The Wisconsin Police Journal is the voice of thousands of WPPA members throughout Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Police Journal is dedicated to the following principles: • To disseminate important news and information affecting the WPPA membership. • To publicize the purposes, programs and public service projects of the WPPA. • To inform government officials and state legislators of the problems and concerns of the membership. • To inform the citizens of Wisconsin of the duties of the law enforcement officer and to encourage public acceptance of, and compliance with, the laws of the state. • To reflect the proper and deserved image of law enforcement officers in order to help them perform their responsibilities to provide security for all persons and protect the rights of the individual regardless of race, creed or religion. • To defend and promote the integrity of law enforcement officers who, at great personal sacrifice, are devoting their lives and careers to the noble profession of law enforcement. Wisconsin Police Journal - 2 Table of Contents Message from the President p. 3 Extended Legal Protection Plan p. 4 Executive Director's Report p. 5 From the Desk of Attorney General Josh Kaul p. 6 A deep loss; John Hetland p. 7 State v Wright p. 8 WPPA 2019 Law Enforcement Survey pp. 9-13 Wisconsin Law Enforcement Museum of Valor p. 13 WPPA Honors State's Most Heroic Officers pp. 14-20 STAR International Police Exchange p. 21 NAPO: The Washington Report p. 22 6th Annual Battle of the Badges p. 23 WPPA Awards Scholarships pp. 24-25 2019 State Pistol Shoot pp. 26-27 Retirees Corner p. 28 2019 WPPA Golf Outing p. 29 WPPA Merchandise pp. 30-31 Minocqua 42nd Annual Musky Hunt p. 31MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT This message comes to you with a very heavy heart. In June, our law enforcement community suffered a pair of devastating losses. During the early morning hours of June 18, Milwaukee Police Officer Kou Her was tragically killed when he was struck by a drunk driver that ran a red light. A two-year veteran at MPD who always dreamed of being a police officer, Her was simply returning home after his shift. He leaves behind six brothers, two sisters, his parents, and a department reeling from having lost three officers in just the last eight months. Just a few hours before Her’s fatal crash, Racine Police Officer John Hetland sat, off-duty at a local bar. When a masked gunman came in to rob the place, John attempted to intervene and was shot and killed. I always figured that there was a good chance that I might have to respond to a call of an officer down, but I had hoped and prayed that I would be able to make it through my career without having to do so. On June 17, that call came, and it has forever changed me and the officers of my department. I’ve watched the men and women with whom I serve openly weep, and I myself could never have imagined the sadness, hurt, and outright anger that I have come to experience. John was a close personal friend of mine. He was my local association vice president, and he served with me as a member of the WPPA’s Board of Directors. He and I spoke several times a week, and we worked closely together to make sure that our officers got the representation that they deserve. In addition to being a great cop, John was a selfless and dedicated leader and role model, a cops' cop. John made everyone around him better, and our community, our department, and our profession are better because of him. But John was so much more than that. He was a devoted father, brother and son and a fiercely loyal friend. A few days after John’s passing, his parents and two children came to the PD to pay their respects at the squad parked outside in his honor. I helped John’s eight-year old daughter place a sign that she had made on the hood of the squad that read “I love you Daddy! Love, Brooke.” John’s 15-year old son Hunter placed a fishing lure on the squad with a private note to his dad. As difficult as this has been for me and many others in my department, that pain pales in comparison to the suffering and despair being endured by those who knew and loved him the most. The notes, cards, pictures and flowers - as heartbreaking as they might be - are the best testament to John and the impact that he had. While many people are mourning his death, no one that knew John is shocked by the way in which he died – leaping into action to help someone in need. John was a hero that sacrificed his life to protect the lives of others. John threw himself into everything he did, and the passionate way in which he did so is what many people will remember the most about him. I can’t begin to thank all of the people across this state – especially those in law enforcement – that have reached out and spoken up to express their respect and support for our law enforcement family. I appreciate how our community comes together to support one another when we are struck by tragedy – especially the loved ones that our officers leave behind. Please stay strong, support one another, and don’t be afraid to ask a fellow officer if they need help, or to admit it if you are the one in need. The death of an officer brings us together, and we owe it to them and their memories to not squander the value and benefits of that special and important bond. I will never forget you, John, and I love and miss you – as do so many others. I know that you are standing watch in Heaven, and I am eternally grateful to call you my friend and brother. Todd Hoover Comments and letters can be sent to hoover1803@ sbcglobal.net Wisconsin Police Journal - 3Wisconsin Police Journal - 4 Membership in WPPA Extended Legal Plan Continues to Grow Mirroring what’s occurring nationally, Wisconsin has seen numerous law enforcement officers charged criminally or sued civilly in the last few years for their actions in the line of duty. In 2011, for instance, a La Crosse County deputy was charged for a fatal squad accident that occurred while responding to a fellow officer’s urgent calls for help. In 2017, a Milwaukee officer was tried criminally and acquitted for fatally shooting an armed man during a traffic stop. Just last month, a mistrial was declared in the criminal trial of a Brown Deer officer in the non-fatal shooting of a 370-pound man that was overpowering both her and her partner in a physical struggle. Though none of these officers were convicted (prosecutors are currently considering whether to refile charges against the Brown Deer officer), each of them has incurred upwards of $100,000 in legal bills. The financial costs that a criminal prosecution can impose upon an officer are enormous, adding a huge burden to the emotional and physical toll that any critical incident already takes on an officer that was just doing their job. For that reason, the WPPA recently created its new Extended Legal Protection Plan. The ELPP is a pre-paid legal plan that will cover all of your legal costs if you are charged criminally or sued civilly for actions done in the line of duty. In addition, because we've seen far too many officers frustrated with issues related to statutory claims such as worker's compensation and duty disability, the plan extends to cover those vital areas as well. For the first time ever, the WPPA can now protect you on a broader scale through a comprehensive new plan – one that you can’t afford not to have. Since it was launched over a year ago, over 1,200 WPPA members have already enrolled in the ELPP, and the WPPA office has been very busy processing the new enrollments that come in every day. As Wisconsin’s largest law enforcement group, the WPPA has established a long and proud history of working to protect you at the bargaining table, in the legislature, and within the communities you serve. Our in-house attorneys currently represent members in a wide variety of areas that are connected to your employment and the collective bargaining agreements that govern that vital service. WPPA attorneys also represent members in critical incidents that are not addressed by your contracts, such as when officers are involved in shootings, squad accidents, or in-custody deaths. In short, we have been widely recognized as having the most legal experience of anyone in the state when it comes to the dedicated men and women that police our state. Despite the unparalleled level of services that we provide, the WPPA is committed to expanding its capacity to serve you and confront the ever-changing challenges that you face. Increasingly around the country, officers are finding themselves being targeted by ambitious prosecutors hoping to score political points and opportunistic civil attorneys eager to score a quick settlement – all because officers were forced to act to protect themselves and the lives of others. The Extended Legal Protection Plan was established to provide you and your families with a safety net of additional legal coverage to give you the peace of mind you need as you work to keep the peace in our communities. Extended Legal Protection Plan Highlights: 1. Under this optional plan, the WPPA will cover all of the costs in connection to the following types of legal matters that are not currently covered by your WPPA membership: Criminal defense in actions stemming from conduct performed in the capacity of a law enforcement officer; Civil defense (e.g., civil rights claims) in actions stemming from conduct performed in the capacity of a law enforcement officer for which an officer’s employer does not provide representation; Worker’s compensation cases; and Duty disability cases. 2. This plan is only available to full-service members in good standing and members from retainer local associations that do not have binding arbitration. 3. Each member must enroll in the extended plan on an individual basis by completing the plan contract available at and by submitting the annual plan fee. Local associations may pay for their members out of their treasuries, but the WPPA must receive a signed extended plan contract and the annual plan fee for each individual member in order for them to be enrolled. 4. The annual fee for this extended legal plan is $72. 5. The plan even covers outside (non-WPPA) attorneys that have been vetted and approved by the WPPA. For more information about this ground-breaking new service option, or to enroll and begin receiving the added protection that it provides, go to our website at www.wppa.com . ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Wisconsin Police Journal - 5 So many in our community are suffering in the wake of the loss of two more Wisconsin officers. The tragic death of Milwaukee Officer Kou Her on June 18 is the fourth that department has seen in the past year. And the slaying of Racine Police Officer John Hetland on June 17, while heroic, is beyond saddening for many – myself included. John had served on the WPPA’s statewide board of directors for 12 years – about as long as I have been Executive Director. John was a thoughtful, actively- engaged leader who never shied away from asserting his views, which always revolved around the goal of making sure that the WPPA was the best at advocating for our state’s officers and ensuring that the WPPA would be there when our members need us the most. I also worked with him at the local level, whether it involved assisting officers facing difficult circumstances or helping to confront larger challenges impacting his entire membership. John was a fierce advocate for law enforcement officers, but he always made sure to treat people with dignity and respect. John made the WPPA a better, more effective organization, and seeing how his tragic death has impacted his family and fellow officers, it’s clear that he had that same effect on so many others. On behalf of the entire WPPA organization, we extend our deepest condolences to all those mourning the devastating losses of Hetland, Her, or any of the dedicated officers that have left us too soon. There have been far too many. Legislative Update On a note that is somewhat related to John Hetland’s line of duty death and the deaths of many other law enforcement heroes, the WPPA has made great strides in this legislative session in advancing a bill to ensure that the surviving spouses and children of our fallen law enforcement officers will be able to keep their health insurance coverage. When an officer makes the ultimate sacrifice, their loved ones should not have to fend for themselves with respect to their health insurance needs. Currently, coverage ends when an officer is killed in the line of duty, but we have made it one of our top priorities to help lead the charge in generating as much support as possible for a bill to correct this problem. I am very pleased to report that, on June 7, Senate Bill 266 was introduced in the legislature with 90 lawmakers signing onto the measure as cosponsors – an incredible demonstration of bipartisan strength for any piece of legislation, especially in this day and age. The passing of John Hetland served to draw increased media attention to this issue, and we are very optimistic about the potential that this bill will be approved by the legislature and signed into law. For those of you that have followed the updates that we have provided on this issue on the WPPA’s website (wppa.com) and answered our call to action encouraging members to contact their state lawmakers to voice their support, thank you so much. Your active engagement has been enormously helpful, and we invite all of you to check our website for additional developments as they occur. Critical Incident Update The year may have started out with fewer officer-involved shootings when compared to recent years, but that has changed dramatically since the last issue of the WPJ was published. Since that time, officers from the following agencies have been involved in shootings: UW-Milwaukee, Abbotsford, Milwaukee (2), Appleton, Sheboygan, Waukesha County, Neenah, Mount Pleasant, Outagamie County, and Columbia County. In addition, the WPPA’s field and legal staff have responded to an incident involving the use of force in the City of Waukesha, a pursuit- related fatality involving officers from Portage, and two jail deaths – Green County and Richland County. On the issue of officer-involved shootings alone, there have been 15 such events this year. By comparison, there had been 10 officer-involved shootings by the same time in 2018. In total, 148 officer-involved shootings have taken place in Wisconsin in the just last five years, and as this and every other issue of the WPJ makes clear, these incidents involve officers from agencies of all shapes and sizes. That is why we take our responsibility to respond and protect you when these incidents occur, regardless of the time of day or night, or where they might occur throughout the state. In closing, I want to welcome the lieutenants from the Town of Beloit, the sergeants from Waterford, and the jail supervisors from Manitowoc County that recently joined the WPPA’s proud ranks. As a result of the WPPA’s effectiveness in serving its members in a wide variety of ways, we continue to grow our membership, and by extension, our ability to advocate on your behalf – especially as it relates to the legislative issues that impact your ability to do your job safely and support the loved ones who rely upon you. Please stay safe, stay informed, and stay in touch. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT James L. Palmer, II Comments & letters can be sent to palmer@wppa.com or on Twitter @JimPalmerwiWisconsin Police Journal - 6 The Wisconsin State Crime Labs As members of the law enforcement community in Wisconsin know well, the Wisconsin State Crime Labs regularly assist with criminal investigations. The state crime labs are the only full- service crime lab system in the state. The services provided by the crime labs include, among other things, crime scene response, toxicology testing, drug identification, DNA analysis, firearm analysis, fingerprint examinations, and forensic imaging. Despite the hard work of the team at the crime labs, the average turnaround time for DNA and firearms cases has increased in recent years. For DNA cases, the average turnaround time was 43 days in 2015, 61 days in 2016, and 76 days in 2017. For firearms cases, the average turnaround time increased from 113 days in 2015 to 119 days in 2016, 171 days in 2017, and 210 days in 2018. One of my priorities as attorney general is making sure the state crime labs are responsive and able to test evidence efficiently—both now and in the future. Earlier this year, we reorganized the Department of Justice to make the state crime labs a division within DOJ: the Division of Forensic Sciences. The crime labs had previously been a bureau within DOJ’s Division of Law Enforcement Services. By creating the Division of Forensic Sciences, we are reaffirming DOJ’s commitment to ensuring that the crime labs are conducting rigorous, independent, and objective analysis. Reflecting the importance of the crime labs’ work, the director of the Division of Forensic Sciences reports directly to the Deputy Attorney General. DOJ’s budget request also seeks to strengthen the crime labs by requesting additional forensic technicians who could do some of the work currently being done by analysts, allowing analysts to spend more of their time analyzing evidence. DOJ has requested three additional staff members whose primary responsibility would be crime scene response and two additional firearm examiners. And DOJ has proposed the creation of a pay progression structure in an effort to retain the best and most qualified analysts, examiners, specialists, and technicians at the crime labs. Upcoming Symposium The Division of Forensic Sciences will be hosting the inaugural Crime Laboratory Symposium at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells on October 28 and 29, 2019. The symposium, which will provide information about the state crime labs’ capabilities and tools, will be open to law enforcement and prosecutors. To sign up, check WILENET.org. 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Contact me for your free quote. James Philipps Sales Representative 1600 Aspen Commons Ste 270 Middleton, WI 53562 (P) (608) 535-3101 James.Philipps@libertymutual.com Client #122805 LibertyMutual.com/WPPAWisconsin Police Journal - 7 By JONATHON SADOWSKI AND MICHAEL BURKE June 18, 2019 RACINE — Racine Police Officer John Hetland, killed Monday night while trying to stop an armed robbery at Teezers Bar and Grill, 1936 Lathrop Ave., is remembered by those who knew him as much more than an officer of the law. Beyond his selfless heroics on the night he died, Hetland was: a star baseball pitcher and first baseman during his time at Park High School; a devoted father; a dedicated public servant; a police union mainstay and a police association board member. Hetland, 49, leaves behind two children, a 15-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter, according to Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. Tragically, Palmer said, Hetland had planned to retire by the end of the year to spend more time with his family. “He obviously was a dedicated public servant and just a devoted father,” Palmer said. “He talked about retiring at the end of the year … to spend more time with his two kids, ages 15 and 8. It just kind of adds something to an already extraordinarily tragic event.” Hetland was off-duty when an armed robber walked into Teezers at about 9:40 p.m. Monday. Hetland tried to intervene and was fatally shot. Because Hetland was acting to protect the public, his death is regarded as having been in the line of duty, Palmer said. “I’ve attended more law enforcement funerals than I can count, but I think that this will be the first one that involves an officer I personally knew,” Palmer said. “It touches even more close to home, so I can only imagine how this must be impacting John’s fellow officers. I have talked to some of them, and this is a huge loss. He’s going to be missed.” Baseball In 1987, the University of Minnesota was going to offer Hetland a baseball scholarship, former Park coach Al Ellingham said Tuesday, but the school withdrew the offer after Hetland “tore up” a knee playing football in the fall of that year, his senior year at Park. Coming off a severe knee injury, further athletic accolades may not have seemed to be in the cards. But he came back in the spring for more stellar performances on the baseball diamond, including a no-hitter. In the spring of 1988, he was named Player of the Year in the Big Nine Conference, was a first-team outfielder on the All- Racine County team and was unanimously voted The Journal Times All-Racine County Player of the Year by local coaches. But Hetland had hurt his arm late in the 1988 regular season and gave up 10 runs to Horlick in a WIAA regional final. “Never in my wildest dreams did I believe we would score that many runs against Hetland,” Horlick Coach George Tigges told The Journal Times. “We’ve never hit him that hard.” A month later, when Hetland was voted County Player of the Year, Tigges told The Journal Times: “As far as batting and pitching combined, I haven’t seen anyone that good.” In his junior year, Hetland batted .500. He topped that in his senior year by batting .600. Ellingham remembers Hetland well almost three decades later. “Of all the kids I coached, he was in the top five,” Ellingham said Tuesday. “He was an excellent team leader; he was like a coach on the field. He knew how to play, and he was really good with other kids on the team. “He was the guy you wanted up to bat when the game was on the line. “He was definitely a good guy. We’ll miss him.” Jack Schiestle, who coached Hetland for a local amateur team sponsored by Orth-Abbott Insurance, remembered him fondly Tuesday night. “I just have an empty feeling today,” Schiestle said. “He was a terrific ballplayer — absolutely outstanding — and probably one of the hardest outs I’ve ever seen. He just hit the ball anywhere and everywhere. And he had a great arm. The kid could throw the ball like crazy. I remember watching the kid play and thinking, ‘I’ve got to get him on my team.’ Luckily, he was nice enough to play for me.” Scott Petersen, president of PointOne Recruiting Solutions, was an infielder on that Orth-Abbott team. On Tuesday, he remembered being mentored by Hetland. “I was like 16, 17 years old and he was in college,” Petersen said. “I think it was about three years of many, many days of baseball together, shagging balls and telling stories in the dugout. He, along with many other guys his age, took me under their wing and helped me mature pretty early in life. “I have not seen him in years, but my heart certainly feels empty today. So sad. So very sad.” Police career Hetland joined the Racine Police Department in 1995. Continued on page 8 A deep loss John Hetland was a family man, high school baseball star, union leaderWisconsin Police Journal - 8 The importance of this case to law enforcement is: It creates, in effect, a bright line rule that the police are entitled to ask about weapons in any lawful traffic stop; 2. Allows the police to do a permit check when they find a weapon as such an inquiry does not take a long time; and 3. Reflects a court sensitivity to the danger issues posed to law enforcement officers in any traffic stop, no matter how routine. Introduction In this case, the Wisconsin Supreme Court wrestled with the issue of when a police officer can ask a subject about weapons and their CCW permit status during a routine traffic stop. Ultimately, the court concluded that a police officer can ask any lawfully stopped driver about weapons, as a matter of course in any traffic stop. Facts The police stopped Wright for a minor traffic violation. When they made contact with Wright, they had no reason to suspect he was armed, and Wright was courteous and non- combative. Nevertheless, the officer asked Wright if he was armed and Wright stated he had a gun in his glove box, which he produced. After securing the gun, the officer asked Wright if he had a permit and Wright advised that he had recently completed the CCW permit class. The officer then checked and found out that Wright did not yet have the proper permit. Wright was arrested for CCW. Wright’s Argument Wright challenged both the request about weapons and the inspection of his CCW status, arguing that the police lacked reasonable suspicion to believe he was armed when they stopped him. Lower Court Holdings Both the trial court and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals sided with Wright. Both courts held that since the police did not have reasonable suspicion that Wright was armed, asking questions about weapons and Wright’s CCW permit status unreasonably prolonged the routine traffic stop. Both courts then suppressed the gun evidence. The State appealed these decisions to the Wisconsin Supreme Court arguing that the police are entitled to ask about weapons in any traffic stop as part of an overall safety concern, and if they find a weapon are entitled to check out the owner’s permit status. The Supreme Court Holding The Supreme Court agreed with the State and endorsed the police actions toward Wright. First and foremost, our high court held that the police are automatically entitled to ask people in a lawfully stopped vehicle about weapons, no matter the circumstances. The court correctly reasoned that the police legitimately have basic safety concerns in any traffic stop and therefore a standard weapon inquiry does not require a reasonable suspicion that any occupant is armed. Once the police find the weapon pursuant to a standard inquiry, they can make the permit check as doing so takes very little time and does not unreasonably extend the traffic stop. So, the Supreme Court reversed the lower courts and reinstated the gun evidence. Note It is important to note that Wright told the police he was armed. If, however, a subject denies being armed and the police do not have any reason to think otherwise, there should be no further acts taken as to finding weapons without a lawful reason. State v Wright Decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court April 30, 2019 Retired Assistant Attorney General Dave Perlman A deep loss continued: In 1999, he received an Exemplary Officer Award and in 2000 he received a Unit Citation Award and Exemplary Officer Award. Also in 2000, The Journal Times followed Hetland as he did a prostitution sting operation in an unmarked squad car on State Street. “After 5 p.m., it’s almost sickening how many guys are out there doing this,” Hetland told The Journal Times during the sting. He had served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association since 2007, Palmer said. Palmer spoke highly of him on Tuesday, saying he was a devoted member of the board and of the Racine Police Department. During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Mayor Cory Mason spoke of Hetland’s courage and integrity and of his work with the Racine Police Association union. On the Racine Police Association website, Hetland is listed as the vice president of its Board of Directors. “He was fighting not only to protect the city, but to fight for his colleagues to make sure that they had fair and safe working conditions,” Mason said. The RPA in a statement on its website asked for “patience and prayers as we process the loss of Officer Hetland.” Reprinted with permission from the Journal Times.Wisconsin Police Journal - 9 MAINTAINING ROADS & HIGHWAYS 61 KEY FINDINGS COMMUNITY PRIORITIES: KEEPING COMMUNITY SAFE FROM CRIME #1 7 YEARS RUNNING! WPPA 2019 WISCONSIN LAW ENFORCEMENT SURVEY As the only law enforcement group in the country to commission and share an annual public perception survey, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) leads the nation through its proactive efforts to drive an informed and constructive public discourse on a host of complex issues. The WPPA’s 7th annual poll, this year’s survey was conducted by the St. Norbert College’s Strategic Research Institute from February 27 - April 17, 2019 through a random digit dial sampling strategy that included both cellular phones and landlines. The data was weighted to more accurately reflect the demographic make-up of the area under study, and the survey weights were derived from 2017 population estimates (most recent data available). The WPPA prides itself in asking the tough questions and using the invaluable insights provided by the people its members serve to advance a responsible public dialogue on the future of policing in Wisconsin. High Priority SAFE FROM CRIME (ALL RESPONDENTS) SAFE FROM CRIME (NON-WHITE RESPONDENTS) IMPROVING EDUCATION IMPROVING LOCAL ECONOMY PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT HOLDING LINE ON TAXES/GOVT. SPENDING 75% 87% 59 51 48 39Next >