After an anti-LGBTQ+ twitter account with 1.4 million followers targeted UW Health’s gender services programs last month, Madison police said they launched an investigation that found the posts didn’t lead to direct security threats against the health care system.
Category: Crime and safety
‘Thank goodness we had a video’: Madison man receives $1.1 million settlement in police misconduct lawsuit
Noted: The outside review was completed by UW-Madison police and found officers had acted legally but missed opportunities that could have led to a better outcome. Officers told the investigator that Clash-Miller had made threats to them, his foster parent and a contractor at the house that day.
UW-Madison reminds students of safety following the arrest of a man who made ‘threatening statements’
University Housing for UW-Madison is reminding students to be extra cautious of who they hold the door open for, following the arrest of a man who made “threatening statements” to residents.
UWPD releases stats from Badger game, showing decrease in citations
UWPD issued a total of 11 citations Saturday, showing a decrease in citations compared to previous weeks.
Man arrested after making racially tinged threats at UW residence hall, police say
UW-Madison police arrested a 20-year-old man Thursday for allegedly making a series of threats at a university residence hall this week, including some that were racially motivated.
MFD: UW fraternity house fire linked to unattended fire pit
The Madison Fire Department determined that a fire at a University of Wisconsin-Madison fraternity house was started by an unattended fire pit.
UW-Madison Police Department makes arrest at Witte Hall
According to UWPD, 22-year-old David C. Clash-Miller made a disturbance in the residence hall meeting room. Police arrested Clash-Miller after reports of threatening statements and comments on a person’s race.
Johns Hopkins U. Paused Its Plans for a Campus Police Force. 2 Years Later, Resistance Is Stronger Than Ever.
Kristen Roman, chief of police at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said that for colleges, one of the advantages of having a police department is that officers are more familiar with the institution’s particulars.“
As a community member, I myself would rather have somebody in a police role who is invested and understands some of the unique challenges of my community,” said Roman, who serves as director-at-large of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators’ Board of Directors
Bicyclist injured after crash into vehicle near campus
“It’s up to both bicyclists and motorists to share the road and follow the rules of the road,” Lovicott said in the email statement. “In this particular case, MPD shared that the driver of the vehicle had the right of way.”
Madison will require reviews when police use tear gas to control crowds
An independent investigator will need to produce a report the next time Madison police use tear gas to control crowds.
The ordinance approved by the city’s Common Council on a 14-4 vote Tuesday night is a softened version of an outright ban on tear gas, originally proposed by Alder Juliana Bennett.
Bennett, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, told the council Tuesday she vomited after being tear-gassed by police while protesting in Madison during the summer after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Bicyclist injured after crashing into vehicle on UW-Madison campus
Madison police were called to the intersection of West Johnson Street and North Charter Street around 1:20 p.m. after the crash was reported. The bicyclist was taken to a local hospital where she was treated and later released.
Madison once again cancels ‘Freakfest’ Halloween party
Noted: The State Street area near the University of Wisconsin Madison’s campus had been a destination for Halloween revelers for decades prior to the pandemic, although the festival had changed over time.
UW-Madison Police make arrest, reports of assaults on campus
Marc Lovicott, the Executive Director of Communications for the UWPD explained, “… our one report came to us in early September. We made the decision to share photos on social media which we believed would help us identify the suspect. And that’s ultimately how we are able to make an arrest — through community tips”.
66 people ejected, 32 arrested during Badgers game, UW police say
Of the 66 people ejected, 39 were UW students, and of the 32 arrested, 24 were UW students, police said in a statement detailing the numbers.
Reconciling antisemitism and free speech on college campuses
At my alma mater, University of Wisconsin-Madison, the fall semester is off to an inauspicious start. Administrators there are calling for “civility and kindness” after antisemitic messages were written on campus sidewalks in seven different locations. The chalkings labeled Jewish student groups as “racist,” “genocidal,” and “having blood on their hands.”
UWPD releases stats from Badger game, showing an increase in ejections
The University of Wisconsin Police Department released their statistics following the Wisconsin vs. New Mexico State game Saturday night. UWPD issued a total of 31 citations Saturday, steady with the number of citations the week before.
UW Police arrest teen accused of inappropriate touching, slapping while on scooter
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department says it has arrested a teenager from Waunakee for a string of sexual assaults while passing people on a scooter.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduces legislation to support sexual assault survivors on college campuses
New legislation would ensure continued advocacy at UW.
UW-Madison police get to know campus community through Coffee with a Cop event
The department holds several events a year. It gives the campus community a chance to learn more about the department and some of the services it offers beyond patrol and protection.
UWPD searching for person who allegedly slapped people while riding on scooter
Anyone who believes they were slapped or touched by the suspect is also urged to contact police.
University of Wisconsin Police Department September 10 game day statistics
The game saw an increase in nearly every stat compared to the Illinois State game a week prior.
45 people ejected, 31 arrested during Badgers game, UW police say
UW-Madison police reported that 45 people were ejected from Camp Randall Stadium and 31 people were arrested during Saturday’s game between the Badgers and Washington State.
UW-Madison denounces antisemitic chalk messages that appeared around campus on first day of classes
Antisemitic messages were written at various spots across the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus on the first day of classes this week, prompting an apology from frustrated administrators at the school, which has a significant Jewish population.
Man Gets Life in Prison for Killing Girlfriend’s Parents After Disputes About Covid Social Distancing
They were found on March 31, 2020, in a ditch outside the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, located on the campus. Police said they were shot while in the ditch.
Man who killed Wisconsin doctor, her husband gets life
The man convicted in the fatal shooting of a University of Wisconsin physician and her husband in the school’s arboretum was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday without the possibility of parole.
Judge issues sentences for men convicted in UW Arboretum murder
Dane County Judge Ellen Berz sentenced Sanford to two life sentences without the opportunity for parole. “It is inexplicable why these two people who only showed kindness and generosity to you and everyone in the community, you would gun down,” Berz said. “It makes no sense.”
Sanford, Larrue sentenced to prison for roles in UW Arboretum murders
The couple, Dr. Beth Potter and her husband Robin Carre, was found shot and left for dead in the UW Arboretum in March 2020.
Sanford gets life with no parole in killings at UW Arboretum
Alijah Larrue was sentenced later in the day to eight years in prison, plus extended supervision.
UW-Madison addresses underage drinking on campus as school year begins
With the Fall semester just days away, college students have returned to the Madison area.
And on Sept. 2, 137 of them were cited for underage drinking.
Freshman enrollment at UW-Madison is up 16% compared to last fall. A record 8,465 freshman students will begin studying in just a few days; many of them have already moved in.
27 people ejected, 19 arrested during Badgers game, UW police say
Of the 27 people ejected, 18 were UW students, and of the 19 arrested, 16 were UW students, police said in a statement detailing the numbers.
Photo of suspect in East Oakland attempted rape, robbery released
In the photo, the man is seen wearing a red jacket with what appears to be University of Wisconsin logo on his sleeve and a beanie.
Police cite 137 at Downtown Madison bar
During the week when UW-Madison students were moving into dorms or returning to other campus housing, Madison and UW-Madison police on Thursday issued 137 underage drinking and fake ID citations at a single State Street bar.
Authorities identify man who drowned in Lake Mendota near UW Memorial Union
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement that Layne Hailu, 22, of Madison, was the man whose body was found after a passerby notified police at about 5:40 a.m. Aug. 19 of what appeared to be a body floating in the water, just off a pier near Alumni Park.
Alarm at Memorial Union brings quick response to extinguish smoldering oily rags, Madison Fire Department says
An alarm brought a quick response to extinguish smoldering oily rags at Memorial Union on Sunday, the Madison Fire Department reported.
UWPD, Dane County officials respond to body found on Lake Mendota
It was quickly determined that the person was deceased, but officials suspect no foul play.
Man’s body found in lake Friday morning behind UW Memorial Union
Rescue teams were called to Lake Mendota Friday morning behind the UW Memorial Union, where they found a man’s body in the water.
Fraternity house burglarized over summer break, Madison police say
Clothing, electronics, cash and “high-end sports memorabilia” were reported missing from a Langdon Street fraternity near UW-Madison after a break-in was reported Monday, Madison police said.
‘I was a little bit concerned honestly’: Wisc-alerts leave UW-Madison students wondering
Marc Lovicott, Executive Director of Communications for UW–Madison Police Department, said the initial report came from someone who thought they heard gunshots. He said police thoroughly checked the area and found nothing.
UW-Madison Police: ‘no threat to campus’ after shots fired incident at Picnic Point
UW-Madison police say it is safe to resume normal activities after a shots fired report Sunday morning at Picnic Point.
UW Hospital experiences outage, quickly restores power
According to a UW Health official, the outage occurred around 1 p.m. when a problem occurred with one of the building’s electrical transformers.
Madison readies ‘Isthmus Safety Initiative’ to address gun violence, sexual assault
The project area is the Downtown entertainment area in and around State Street from Capitol Square to the edge of UW-Madison at North Lake Street, and two to three blocks on either side of State Street. The primary focus is weekend nights when people are frequenting bars, especially on Friday and Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. and during special events.
UPDATE: Person arrested in Langdon Street area after taking off from traffic stop
Sergeant Amanda Poli with the Madison Police Department says someone ran off while officers were trying a traffic stop. Poli says that person is in custody, but the investigation is still ongoing.
Police: Person who fled traffic stop near UW-Madison campus in custody
Incident prompted campus-wide alert asking people to avoid the area.
Police continue to investigate downtown near UW-Madison campus
In an incident report from the Madison Police Department, it states that officers were trying to perform a traffic stop around 7:55 p.m. on Langdon Street and North Frances Street when one of the occupants of the vehicle ran away. MPD said that the person was taken into custody.
Retired UWMPD K9 officer dies
UW-Madison’s police department is mourning the loss of a retired K9 officer. Casey spent 10 years with UWMPD and has been retired for the last 5 years.
The Title IX lawsuit from a woman who accused ex-Wisconsin football star Quintez Cephus of sexual assault is dismissed
A federal judge in Madison has dismissed a woman’s lawsuit against the University of Wisconsin over how it reinstated a Badgers football star who had been expelled for sexual assault.
’30 by 30′ calls for 30% of police recruits to be women by the year 2030
Noted: This is the second year on the job for Patrol Officer Nicole Schmitgen. She patrols Madison’s Central District around the state capitol and part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. She says while people think policing is about guns and drugs and driving fast, it’s more about communication and helping people.
University of Wisconsin law professor Keith Findley is a member of Madison’s Police Civilian Oversight Board. He says there’s a plethora of research that shows women on the force have a positive impact on police departments and communities. He says they are often better at communicating and de-escalating tense situations.
“They are sued less frequently than their male counterparts,” Findley says. “They make fewer discretionary arrests, especially of non-white residents. They use force less frequently and excessive force less frequently than their male counterparts.”
UWPD requests hate crime enhancer for recent report
A UW staff member of Asian descent was running along the Lakeshore Path when a man yelled a racial slur from a vehicle, then got out of the vehicle to approach the victim. The suspect was later identified as Tom Gbean, 28, of Oswego, IL.
UWPD: Asian student had racial slur yelled at him while running on Lakeshore Path on Fourth of July
Incident comes after at least two documented attacks on students of Asian descent in greater campus area in recent weeks.
UW-Madison police request hate crime enhancer with disorderly conduct charge against Illinois man
UW police are asking the Dane County District Attorney’s Office to file disorderly conduct charges with a hate crime enhancer against Gbean, who has no affiliation with UW-Madison, Lovicott said.
Illinois man cited after yelling racial slur at UW-Madison employee
An Illinois man was cited for disorderly conduct after yelling a racial slur at a UW-Madison staff member, police say.
The UW-Madison Police Department (UWPD) received a report about a possible hate crime Wednesday, July 6 that occurred two days earlier.
UWPD recover stolen vehicle, gun after traffic stop arrests
UW-Madison police arrested two people following a traffic stop Saturday.
Chinese Ph.D. student beaten outside UW Madison
Students at the University of Wisconsin at Madison are calling on the administration to take action after a doctoral student from China was reportedly punched and kicked by a group of men while walking in downtown Madison near campus.
Multiple departments fight barn blaze at UW-Madison Arlington Agricultural Research Station
The fire was contained to one large structure that housed farming equipment and hay, and no people or animals were injured, said UW-Madison police spokesperson Marc Lovicott.
Multiple agencies fight structure fire at UW Agricultural Research Station
Deforest Fire Department responded Sunday afternoon to reports of a barn on fire at the Arlington Research Station and multiple other local fire departments followed quickly to assist, UW Police said.
15 years later: Family of Kelly Nolan offers new reward for information about her killing
Fifteen years to the date that a 22-year-old UW-Whitewater student disappeared from Madison’s State Street and was later found dead in a wooded property of Dane County, her family announced a new reward for any information leading to the conviction of her killer.
‘They’re probably going to attack me’: UW-Madison student speaks out after assault
“They have a group of people, they’re probably going to attack me,” Wang recalled.
‘There is no reason to hate someone because of their race’: UW-Madison student speaks out after being attacked near campus
Curtis Wang is going into his senior year at UW-Madison with hopes of eventually becoming a lawyer.
Wang moved from China to America to chase his dream and has loved every second of living in Madison. But what happened to Wang last Tuesday night has shaken him to the core.
Madison police identify 3 suspects in alleged racially motivated attacks
Madison police on Tuesday identified three of the four teens arrested last week in a series of Downtown Madison attacks — two of which some in the Asian community have called racially motivated.
Artificial intelligence technology can secure sites by scanning major venues for weapons
Noted: The new HEXWAVE system will be tested this summer at a Hindu temple near Atlanta, the University of Wisconsin and the Toronto Pearson International Airport.