History and Analysis of the Struggle to Place MPD Student Resource Officers in Milwaukee Public Schools

The protracted struggle to integrate Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) Student Resource Officers (SROs) into Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) encapsulates a multifaceted debate over school safety, community relations, and the role of law enforcement in educational settings. This report provides a comprehensive examination of the historical context, key events, principal actors, and legal ramifications, culminating in the current state as of March 18, 2025.

Historical Context and Removal in 2020

The removal of MPD SROs from MPS occurred on June 18, 2020, following a unanimous vote by the MPS Board of School Directors. This decision was catalyzed by nationwide protests after George Floyd’s death, reflecting a broader movement to reduce police presence in schools, particularly in communities of color. The rationale was to reallocate approximately $600,000 previously allocated for policing to fund six new trauma-informed mental health positions, aiming to create a less hostile learning environment and address the school-to-prison pipeline, as advocated by Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT).

LIT, founded in 2017 and led by executive director Dakota Hall and managing director Darrol Gibson, played a pivotal role in this shift. The organization, focused on youth of color, argued that police presence, including guns and metal detectors, reinforced punitive school discipline policies. A student member of LIT expressed, “Instead of spending money on police officers, we should hire more tutors, anger management therapists, people that will help kids not be angry. Police officers make the kids angry” (Public Integrity).

Board President Larry Miller was instrumental in supporting this resolution, emphasizing the need to prioritize student well-being. However, it’s worth noting that while SROs were removed, four officers remained under the Truancy Abatement and Burglary Suppression (TABS) program, a state-funded collaboration with MPD and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, indicating partial police presence continued.

State Intervention and Legislative Mandate

The state intervened in 2023 with the passage of Wisconsin Act 12, a comprehensive bill that included a mandate for MPS to ensure at least 25 SROs were present during normal school hours and certain events by January 1, 2024. This was part of a shared revenue deal providing financial support to local governments, with Rep. Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield) being a key figure in advocating for this provision, having previously proposed a bill requiring SROs in districts with significant violent incidents (Channel3000).

MPS resisted, citing concerns over the effectiveness of SROs and potential criminalization of students. The district missed the January 1, 2024, deadline, leading to heightened tensions with state authorities and community stakeholders.

Legal Challenges and Court Orders

On October 9, 2024, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), a conservative legal advocacy group, filed a lawsuits on behalf of parent Charlene Abughrin to enforce compliance with Act 12. WILL attorney Lauren Greuel argued, “Failing to provide SROs has left students vulnerable and has forced Milwaukee police officers — through 911 calls — to pick up the slack when schools need assistance,” citing 3,139 MPD calls related to MPS between August 2023 and May 2024 (jsonline.com).

A Milwaukee County judge, on January 23, 2025, ordered MPS to have the SROs in place by February 17, 2025, or face potential contempt, with costs estimated at $1.6 million annually, split equally between MPS and the City of Milwaukee (Urban Milwaukee). This ruling highlighted the ongoing financial and administrative disputes, with MPS blaming the city for delays and the mayor’s office noting unresolved cost allocations.

Deployment and Current Status

Despite the judge’s order, implementation was delayed due to funding disputes and administrative issues. SROs were trained the week of March 10-14, 2025, and deployed on March 17, 2025, to 11 high schools, including Riverside University High School, Bradley Technology and Trade School, North Division High School, Milwaukee High School of the Arts, Hamilton High School, Washington High School, Vincent High School, Madison High School, Rufus King High School, Obama School of Career and Technical Education, and Milwaukee Marshall High School (tmj4.com). This deployment, over a year late, resolves a February contempt order that would have cost the city $1,000 per day, putting MPS and the city into compliance with Act 12 (Urban Milwaukee).

As of March 18, 2025, MPS is working to comply with the court’s order, with the district having a comprehensive safety program, including over 230 safety officers, but the SRO program remains a point of contention. The debate continues, with costs and roles unresolved, affecting MPS’s approach to student safety and community relations.

Key Players and Perspectives

The struggle involved diverse stakeholders:

Advocates for Removal: LIT, with Hall and Gibson at the helm, emphasized alternative investments in mental health and education, reflecting student fears of police presence. MPS Board members in 2020, including Larry Miller, supported this, aligning with community demands for divestment from policing.
Advocates for Reinstatement: WILL, led by Greuel and supported by Abughrin, pushed for SROs to enhance safety, backed by state legislation. Republican legislators, notably Duchow, framed SROs as essential for addressing school violence.
City and MPD Involvement: The MPD initially supported the 2020 removal, stating, “We agree with the many voices from our community who believe that the funding should be reinvested into our public school system to support social services” (CBS58). However, under state mandate, they are now part of implementation efforts, with Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s administration criticized for lack of urgency (FOX6 Milwaukee).

Timeline of Key Events

Date	Event
June 18, 2020	MPS ends MPD SRO contract, reallocates funds to mental health.
Summer of 2023	Wisconsin legislature passes, Governor signs Act 12, mandating 25 SROs by January 1, 2024.
October 9, 2024	WILL files lawsuits to enforce SRO mandate.
January 23, 2025	Judge orders MPS compliance by February 17, 2025, with cost split.
March 10-14, 2025	SROs trained, preparing for deployment.
March 17, 2025	SROs deployed to 11 MPS high schools, resolving legal standoff.

Key Players and Roles

Name/Organization	Role
Dakota Hall, Darrol Gibson (LIT)	Led advocacy for SRO removal, emphasized alternative investments.
Larry Miller	MPS Board President in 2020, supported removal.
Rep. Cindi Duchow	Key in passing Act 12, advocated for SRO mandate.
Lauren Greuel (WILL)	Led legal action for SRO reinstatement, argued for safety.
Charlene Abughrin	Parent backing WILL’s lawsuits for SROs.

This detailed analysis ensures a thorough understanding of the complex dynamics at play, reflecting the community’s diverse needs and the state’s legislative priorities.