A college student called 911 after climbing a tree near downtown Madison Thursday afternoon. A 20-year-old UW-Madison student climbed a tree when she realized she didn’t know how to get back down on the 400 block of Henry Mall just after 4 p.m., according to the Madison Fire Department.
Category: Crime and safety
UWPD receives notice of burglaries at University Hospital
The UW-Madison Police Department is now aware of three burglaries that took place at University Hospital last week.
UW Board of Regents moves for a review of sexual harassment policies
In the wake of the #MeToo movement and elevated allegations of sexual harassment at campuses across the state, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a resolution Thursday to review human resources policies to prevent harassment.
Sunburst Bucky is back at its home
After unexpectedly being thrown into Lake Mendota, the Sunburst Bucky statue is now back in James Madison Park.
On UW campuses, staff harassment of students moves to social media and messaging apps
Sexual harassment of students, long carried on behind closed doors and in late night phone calls, is now seeping into Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, texting and dating apps like Grindr, where students stay connected or hang out.
UW-Madison police becomes first department in Dane County to go through new de-escalation training
The training aims to change the way officers think about use-of-force in critical incidents, especially those involving someone in a mental health crisis.
UW-Madison Police Department to train all officers in de-escalation tactics
The department said Monday that all of its officers would soon be trained to focus on de-escalating situations through communication and other methods to defuse a situation and avoid using use-of-force tactics unless necessary.
UW review finds lack of training documentation prior to Lake Safety boat crash that killed windsurfer Yu Chen
A review by the UW-Madison Police Department conducted after the death of a windsurfer who was struck and killed by a university Lake Safety boat found that the program had little to no documentation of staff training or written policies or procedures for staff to follow.
Report finds no criminal liability against UW in Lake Mendota windsurfer death
Report determined Lake Mendota is safe under watch of UW Lifesaving Station.
Chen’s family poised to file lawsuit as windsurfer’s death remembered
A Chen family attorney says steps have been taken to prepare to file a lawsuit over Chen’s death, as a criminal investigation lingers.
‘It’s unacceptable’: Community speaks out about lack of information on UW lifesaving incident
Sheriff Dave Mahoney tells News 3 that the Sheriff’s Department turned their investigation over to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office, but did not recommend charges.
Public ceremony set to honor windsurfer killed one year ago
Family and friends of Yu Chen invite the public to join in a candlelight vigil Thursday night to remember the late windsurfer. Chen was killed one year ago on May 31, 2017. A UW lifesaving boat hit him while he was windsurfing on Lake Mendota.
Man accused of attempted abduction, violent assaults, pleads not guilty by reason of insanity
Chung was arrested in connection with two alleged attempted abductions of college students on the UW campus, one Sept. 30 and the other Oct. 2. In both instances, the alleged victims were able to escape, but the second victim suffered serious injuries.
Suspended UW student asks for new trial
In his request of Dane County Judge Josann Reynolds, Nathan Friar argues his trial attorney failed to properly challenge the woman’s statements on her drinking, her memory and her injuries.
UW student suspects in videotaped dorm beating released from jail
Two UW-Madison student suspects in the videotaped beating of a student on the ground on residence hall property are released from the Dane County jail.
Girl hit by UW-Madison Police Department squad car on Park Street, police say
A 15-year-old girl was struck by a UW Police Department squad car on the UW-Madison campus Thursday while running from a stopped vehicle, police said.
Following traffic stop, UWPD squad car collides with fleeing woman on Park Street
UWPD, MPD both investigating incident.
Alarming message sent by mistake to UW-Whitewater students
A technical glitch is being blamed for an “active threat to life safety” alert sent to University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students and staff Sunday afternoon.
‘Bucky took a dive for cancer’: Sunburst Bucky artist reacts to statue found in water
The artist who created “Sunburst” Bucky said she will work to repaint the Bucky Badger statue after it was found Wednesday morning in Lake Mendota.
Bucky on Parade statue found in water at James Madison Park, officials say
One of the Bucky on Parade statues placed around Madison this week was found in the water at James Madison Park Thursday morning, officials said.
Campus lake safety program under new leadership a year after windsurfer’s death
A year after a University of Wisconsin-Madison lake safety boat hit and killed a Hoofers Sailing Club instructor on Lake Mendota, changes are coming to the campus’s lake rescue program.
UW Lake Mendota rescue unit now part of police department
The UW Lake Safety program, first put on the water in 1909, is now a part of the UW-Madison Police Department, and has been renamed UWPD Lake Rescue and Safety.
Two 19-year-olds arrested for battery outside Sellery Hall, UW-Madison police say
Two men were arrested and another cited Tuesday after a fight outside Sellery Hall early Friday morning left a UW-Madison student with a broken wrist and a concussion, the UW-Madison Police Department said.
Arrests made in battery incident outside residence hall
UW-Madison Police Department arrested three suspects Tuesday in connection to the battery incident that occurred outside a UW-Madison residence hall last week.
Trial opens for man accused in drowning of UW-Madison student in Italy
A trial opened Tuesday for a homeless man accused of manslaughter in the 2016 drowning of a 19-year-old UW-Madison student whose body was found in the Tiber River soon after he arrived in Rome for a summer study program.
Video shows gang of people attacking student outside UW-Madison dorm
A student’s video shows a gang of people kicking and punching a single victim on the ground outside a UW-Madison dormitory.
Former UW-Madison Employee Accused of Embezzling $114K
A former University of Wisconsin-Madison employee has been charged with stealing nearly $114,000 from the school.Kevin O’Donnell, 54, faces 12 felony and two misdemeanor charges accusing him of stealing the money while working as a purchasing manager for the Division of University Housing, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
UW-Madison housing division alters financial practices after alleged theft by former employee
UW-Madison’s housing division has made several changes to its financial practices after an external review prompted by an alleged theft by a former employee flagged more than a dozen issues needing attention.
UW-Madison Theta Chi suspension shortened
The fraternity was originally suspended until October 21. After the appeal, the suspension will now end October 1.
Footage shows late night battery involving several unidentified suspects
Police believe incident was not “random,” unable to divulge further information.
Battery reported outside UW-Madison residence hall
A battery reportedly involving a UW-Madison student occurred outside a residence hall early Friday morning, according to a UW-Madison Crime Warning issued Saturday afternoon.
Complaint: Former UW-Madison employee stole $113K through fake companies, fraudulent checks
A former UW-Madison employee stole more than $100,000 from the university by funneling cash through fake companies, cashing fraudulent checks and making personal purchases over a 2½-year period, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court.
Man accused of sexually assaulting UW student heads to trial
Dorian Wade, 28, is charged with second-degree sexual assault in relation to an incident that happened in April.
Warm weather bring 15,000 partiers out for Mifflin Street Block Party
Madison Police Department eventually closed down the street and let attendees ’take over’ as a safety precaution.
New Report Ranks Safest Colleges, Universities in America
Columbus State Community College (17), University of Wisconsin-Madison (19), and the University of Minnesota (20) also appeared in the top 25.
Report finds UW investigated 11 out of 318 assaults reported in 2017
UW hopes to increase sexual assault, harassment training on campus.
300 sexual assaults reported to UW-Madison this year, 3 percent investigated
Over 300 sexual assaults were reported to UW-Madison in 2017, according to data released Wednesday, and while the number was on par with last year, reports increased by just over 100 cases since 2015.
UW-Madison fraternity under fire for allegedly throwing trash into Lake Mendota on Earth Day
A Facebook post allegedly showing members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity throwing objects into Lake Mendota sparked backlash Sunday night.
Apparent Hebrew graffiti found scribbled on Agricultural Hall
A translation of the writing revealed the writing says, “Long live our Lord, our Master, and our Lord, King Messiah, forever and ever.”
Arguments escalate to violence as police respond to multiple battery incidents over the weekend
A number of physical altercations occurred near campus over the weekend, including a fight at Bassett Street Brunch Club and a substantial battery on N. Lake Street.
Police announce arrest in ‘unsettling’ stranger sexual assault case
MADISON, Wis. – Surveillance cameras and DNA evidence were instrumental in leading to the arrest of a suspect in what police are calling an “unsettling” stranger sexual assault case, according to officials with the Madison Police Department
Sexual Health Week speaker discusses nuances in sexuality, consent
Ignacio Rivera leads program aimed at combating sexual assault in children
Man fights with UW police, arrested at Memorial Library
A man found sleeping in the UW-Madison Memorial Library early Tuesday morning was arrested after allegedly fighting with police trying to place him under arrest for an outstanding warrant.
Police pepper-spray man during arrest at Memorial Library
Police used pepper spray to arrest a man with a warrant found sleeping in a library on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
University details four reported incidents of burglary, theft at Grainger Hall since Friday
Incidents occurred in unlocked classrooms, Capital Cafe.
UW-Madison to participate in survey gauging sexual violence prevention programs
Conducted by the University of Kentucky — the creators of the Green Dot bystander intervention program used by UW-Madison — the survey will help universities better understand which programs are most successful.
UWPD shares scam call as humorous way to educate others
This week, we’ve already heard about the scam in our area from callers claiming to be from Apple. On Tuesday, UW-Madison Police Department got a different scam call, too, and shared the call as a humorous way to warn others.
State pays out nearly $600K to settle UW-Madison sex cases
The state has paid nearly $600,000 over the last decade to settle allegations of sexual misconduct by University of Wisconsin-Madison employees.
UK survey reveals widespread sexual misconduct by academic staff
“Sadly, I am not surprised by the findings of this report,” says Erika Marín-Spiotta, a biogeochemist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison who is leading a US$1.1-million US initiative to develop strategies to address sexual harassment in science settings.
University Student Burned in Weekend Cooking Accident
A University of Wisconsin-Madison student was burned when her clothing caught fire while she was cooking in a dormitory kitchen.
State paid $541K to settle misconduct, harassment claims at UW-Madison
The state paid at least $541,000 in settlements in the last decade in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault or harassment, by UW-Madison employees, according to public records released Monday.
UW-Madison paid $591,050 to settle six sexual harassment cases in past decade
Undergraduate female students lodged seven sexual harassment complaints against University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty, academic staffers and graduate students over the past decade, including one that resulted in a firing.
Sociology Department TA placed in non-teaching role after sexual harassment allegations
Chancellor Blank says complaints and investigations will probably increase as university cracks down.
UW student burned while cooking in dormitory building, Madison Fire says
A UW-Madison student suffered burns Sunday afternoon when her shirt caught fire while she was boiling water in a dormitory kitchen.
UW-Madison considers new, inclusive sexual assault reporting technology
Students looking to report sexual assault to the university may soon have another option: an online software advocates says will serve as an accessible, inclusive way of connecting survivors with the resources on campus.
During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the UW-Madison community speaks out
If you’ve logged on to Twitter lately, you may have noticed that the University of Wisconsin Police Department’s logo is now teal. This is just a small step in UW-Madison’s effort to increase dialogue about sexual violence on campus during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
ASM panel aims to make sexual assault reporting process more transparent
In an effort to increase transparency regarding the prevention of sexual assault and the steps taken by UW-Madison after a case is reported, Associated Students of Madison hosted a panel of staff members involved in the processes Wednesday night.
ASM panel of campus experts explore sexual assault disciplinary process
“Every single Badger has a role” in the prevention and understanding of sexual assault, Samantha Johnson of UHS said.
Wisconsin has paid more than $800,000 to settle sexual harassment cases over past decade
Wisconsin taxpayers have paid nearly $800,000 over the past decade to settle a dozen claims of sexual harassment and one more related case, newly released records show.
State Settles Sexual Harassment Complaints for $523,000
Another settlement involved a University of Wisconsin-Madison heating plant employee who said that she faced unwanted sexual advances from the facility’s superintendent and was forced to share a locker room with male co-workers, according to the documents. UW-Madison agreed to pay her $250,000 in 2008.