Council moves toward terminating independent police monitor
The Madison Common Council will consider a resolution to terminate Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass at its October 20 meeting.The resolution, introduced by Alder Will Ochowicz, would place Common Council Chief of Staff Karen Kapusta-Pofahl in charge of the office until a perma
The Madison Common Council will consider a resolution to terminate Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass at its October 20 meeting.
The resolution, introduced by Alder Will Ochowicz, would place Common Council Chief of Staff Karen Kapusta-Pofahl in charge of the office until a permanent monitor is hired. The introduction of the resolution was approved by an 18-2 vote, with alders Carmella Glenn and Julia Matthews voting against.
The legality of the resolution is unclear, as Madison ordinance gives sole oversight of the Office of the Independent Monitor to the Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB), and prohibits city alders and other officials from interfering with the monitor’s duties. City Attorney Michael Haas did not immediately respond to an email seeking clarification Tuesday night.
Response to “employment review”
Ochowicz’s resolution cites an “employment review” provided by City Attorney Michael Haas to the Common Council on October 2 as one of the bases for the resolution. That review details the hiring process and notes that the PCOB has not posted an approved job description or engaged in required community outreach toward hiring a permanent monitor, even though Glass’s interim appointment was due to expire in June.
The PCOB has since begun community outreach, launching a survey last week seeking community input on what they would like to see in a permanent police monitor.
On June 9, the Common Council extended Glass’s interim appointment through March 2027, or 30 days after a permanent monitor is hired.
The October 2 “employment review” also contains an August 31 memo from Haas, City Finance Director David Schmiedicke, Human Resources Director Erin Stenson and City IT Director Sarah Edgerton, requested by Common Council President Sabrina Madison, outlining a number of issues with Glass’s performance. It says she hired independent contractors without going through proper City purchasing procedures, submitted the office’s annual budget request late, missed the mayor’s budget meeting, failed to properly notice PCOB meetings, among other complaints.
PCOB Chair Maia Pearson said the October 2 “employment review” contained no new information.
“They’re definitely miscategorizing it,” she said. “They’re saying it’s a review of her employment or it’s a review of the terms of her contract, and they’re miscategorizing (it) as an evaluation.”
Interim appointees are not subject to employment evaluations, but Pearson said the PCOB conducted one of Glass’s performance at Glass’s request. Pearson said the evaluation process has been completed and the PCOB intended to file the resulting evaluation with City HR this week.
Pearson said anything characterized as an employment review of Glass from any entity other than PCOB is inappropriate, noting that Glass is a City department head.
“She’s their peer, and they’re treating her as if she’s not their peer,” Pearson said.
Pearson said Haas did not provide the “employment review” to the PCOB, Glass’s supervisors. Glass said she learned about it when she received an email from a News 3 Now reporter at 6:51 pm Friday.
“Breach of contract”
Ochowicz’s resolution reads, in part, “the Common Council has determined that the actions of Interim Monitor Glass in failing to complete essential duties of the position constitute a breach of contract with the City and that it is necessary to terminate the extension of her provisional appointment in order to reestablish the City’s progress towards effective civilian oversight of the Madison Police Department.”
Glass confirmed to Madison365 that she did not sign an employment contract with the city.
The resolution further says the Common Council Chief of Staff will engage the National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) to “support the Common Council’s commitment to police oversight.”
The resolution makes no mention of the PCOB. Ochowicz did not respond to text and email messages seeking comment.
Madison ordinance
The ordinance establishing both the PCOB and the Office of the Independent Monitor is clear about the office’s independence.
“No City employee or official shall attempt to use their political or administrative position to unduly influence or undermine the independence of the Monitor or any employee of the OIM in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as set forth in this Ordinance,” it reads.
The ordinance provides that the PCOB recruits and hires the independent monitor, with confirmation by the Common Council. It does not mention termination authority.
“You are in direct violation of your own ordinance,” Pearson said of the Common Council.
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes available.
Madison365 is a news outlet covering communities of color in Wisconsin.
