by MOSES Publications | Jul 8, 2026 | Advocacy, Criminal Legal System, Featured, JPTF Justice & Police TF, Newsletter, Policing
MOSES Acts to Support Police Oversight
By Rachel Kincade
Police oversight in Madison is concentrated in two bodies. One is the Office of the Independent Police Monitor (OIPM), which investigates cases of potential police misconduct, reviews the Madison Police Standard Operating Procedures, looks at statistical data on police practices, and issues reports. The other is the Police Community Oversight Board (PCOB), which hires and supervises the Independent Police Monitor (IPM). MOSES has officially supported police oversight, including by the OIPM and the PCOB, since a Sept. 28, 2025, Leadership Board decision. Since then, we have testified in favor of full funding of these entities and against any attempts to weaken police oversight.
An alder who is no longer with the Madison Common Council presented amendments that would take away the independence of the OIPM and make it a city entity. The Council reduced the OIPM’s already scant budget, shortening the hours of its data analyst (while at the same time the police department hired two more data analysts) and not providing for a case manager. MOSES organized. Members of the Justice System Reform Initiative (JSRI) and the Justice and Policing Task Force (JPTF) came together to work on this issue.
We all met and under William Parke-Sutherland’s leadership created a full history of the PCOB and the OIPM, all the way to what is happening now. We provided members with calls to action. It was very informative, and the presentation of our efforts at the MOSES General Meeting on June 14 went smoothly, with Mary Anglim and Eric Howland giving the background – how and why this ordinance was formed. They showed the many years it took to get police oversight in place in Madison.
Eric also covered the OIPM’s budget and how it has steadily been cut. Jeanie Vershay and I talked about where things are at now, starting with December 2025, when the PCOB hired a new interim Independent Police Monitor (IPM), Aeiramique (Meeka) Glass, an experienced police monitor who has brought new life to Madison police oversight. Recent publications from the OIPM, starting with two statistical studies in the annual report and now two high-profile investigative reports on police cases, have challenged Madison’s views of its police department and have also brought criticism of police oversight. (I was on the PCOB for its first four years, and in my opinion, Aeiramique Glass is doing her job in a powerful way, doing exactly what the original ordinance called for in an extremely effective fashion.)
William concluded our presentation at the June General Meeting by talking about the ordinance changes and the need to support the PCOB and the OIPM. He acknowledged that Madison has the best ordinance in the nation, because it holds the superpower of subpoena. Kathy Luker was scheduled to share how to get congregations involved, but her presentation had to be postponed due to time constraints.
A call to action came out on short notice recently, asking MOSES members to attend and speak at a full board meeting of the PCOB. Our President made a statement of MOSES’s support; Eric spoke passionately about the power the police have and the need for a fully funded OIPM. I asked them to just hire Aeiramique Glass as the permanent IPM. Barbie supported the ordinance. Jeanie summed it all up by talking about the death of Richard Lee Johnson in police custody and stated that this was a call to action.
Other possible calls to action include calling your alder and expressing the need for the original ordinance, and calling the mayor to ask for full funding – at least 1% of the police department’s budget – to bring the OIPM data analyst to full time, hire a case manager, and make more money available for independent counsel.
I’ll leave you with another MOSES Call to Action: MOSES is preparing to testify at the Madison Common Council meeting on Aug. 4. At that meeting, several amendments to the statutes that govern police oversight will be considered. Amendments to weaken police oversight have already been proposed. Where we stand: Make the interim IMP (Glass) permanent, fully fund the OIPM, and keep the original ordinance. Watch for additional details about upcoming MOSES calls to action as we approach Aug. 4.
This is how MOSES takes action!
by James Morgan | Jul 8, 2026 | Advocacy, Newsletter, Organizations and Alliances, Organizer, Policing, Prisons
Organizer’s Corner: James Morgan
Interviewed by Margaret Irwin
MOSES Organizer James Morgan and Michael Burch, executive director of The Crossroads Student Ministry, met with a new student group, Students Against Mass Incarceration, in June. James and Michael invited the students to a weeklong Power of Community Organizing training this summer. They look forward to building a strong and effective team on the campus, bringing MOSES resources to assist the students and getting them involved in some of the issues MOSES is concerned about. James will be doing some individual trainings with them and hopes to get them involved in community advocacy work with us, as well as in the community listening sessions MOSES is planning.
James noted that MOSES is a known entity on campus. He had previously collaborated with some of the students’ professors when he was on the staff of JustDane, so when the students decided they wanted to take action about mass incarceration, these professors suggested MOSES as a possible partner. “Continuing and building those relationships increases our ability to expand our level of influence in this community,” James said.
Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) and Office of the Independent Police Monitor (OIPM)
James congratulates the Justice and Policing (JTPF) and Justice System Reform Initiative (JSRI) task forces for their professional and strategic work in demanding transparency and independent oversight of law enforcement in Madison. The task forces have studied the issues and worked with the OIPM and concerned alders to support these demands. James points out that because MOSES is paying attention to what is happening in the community, we have a voice; and the OIPM called on us for assistance. See the article on page x for further information.
MOSES’s Fund-Raising Team has been busy. The Lunch and Learn fund-raising event on May 20 was a big success. A huge thank you to Judge Everett Mitchell, who accepted a modest honorarium in lieu of his usual speaking fees; to Lucy Gibson of Lake Edge Lutheran, who coordinated the event; and to all who attended. People left with not only a wealth of information, but also with questions about how they could become involved in assisting young people caught in the juvenile justice system. James has spoken with the juvenile court system administrator at the City-County building, who invites MOSES members to tour that facility. James will be happy to make arrangements for such a tour. See page x for a full report on the Lunch and Learn event.
The Fund-Raising Team is also in the process of submitting a grant proposal to the Madison Community Foundation for help with trainings and public events. “There’s stiff competition for dollars these days,” James says. “We need organized people and organized money to achieve the level playing field we seek in our country. Just watch the news!” James bows in gratitude to all who give to support MOSES. On June 17, he and Rachel Kincade did a training for the WISDOM statewide network, sharing strategies they have used over the years to fund projects.
James urges us to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! in the Aug. 11 partisan primary and the Nov. 3 mid-term election. “Pay attention to the candidates, what they promise, and how we can hold them to those promises,” he says. “Some people have become very discouraged by the outcome of their votes in recent elections. But we must vote consistently; don’t give up! Vote for what’s in the best interest of yourself, your family, your community, and the state of Wisconsin. VOTE!”
“We are a unique group of individuals across many spheres of this community who have come together because we have a common concern, compassion, and love for ourselves, our families, and our broader community,” James says in conclusion. “That will always stand as something we can be proud of. It constantly inspires me in the work that I do. It also inspires me to say to you all: LET’S DO MOSES!”
by MOSES Publications | Jun 23, 2026 | Advocacy, Calls to Action, Featured, JPTF Justice & Police TF, JSRI Justice System Reform Initiatives, Policing
MOSES In Action
Rachel Kincade
MOSES has officially supported police oversight including the OIPM and the PCOB since September 28, 2025. (Link to official statement) Since then, we have testified in favor of full funding and against any attempts to weaken police oversight.
Police oversight in Madison is concentrated in two bodies: 1) the Office of the Independent Police Monitor (OIPM) which investigates cases of potential police misconduct, reviews the Madison Police Standard Operating Procedures, looks at statistical data on police practices, and issues reports. 2) The Police Community Oversight Board (PCOB) which hires and supervises the Independent Police Monitor.
An alder, who is no longer with the council, presented amendments that would take away the Independence of the OIPM and make it a city entity. The Council had reduced their already scant budget, reducing the time of the data analyst (while the police department hired two more data analysist), and without a case manager. MOSES members organized. Members of our Justice Reform Initiative (JSRI) and the Justice and Policing Task Force (JPTF) came together to work on this issue.
We all met and under William Park-Sutherland’s leadership and created a full history of the PCOB and the OIPM all the way to what is happening now. We provided members with calls to action. It was very informative and the presentation went smoothly with Mary Anglim and Eric Howland doing the background – how and why it was formed. They showed the many years it took to get this ordinance in place.
Eric also covered the budget and how it has steadily been cut. Jeanie Vershay and I talked about where things were at now and provided a call to action. In December 2025 the PCOB hired a new Independent Police Monitor (IPM), Aeiramique (Meeka) Glass. She is an experienced police monitor and has brought new life to Madison police oversight. Recent publications from the OIPM, starting with two statistical studies in their annual report and now two high profile investigative reports on police cases have challenged Madison’s views of its police department and also brought criticism of police oversight.
Aeiramique Glass is doing her job in a powerful way. I was on the PCOB for the first four years. In my opinion, she is doing exactly what the original ordinance calls for and is extremely effective. William brought it home by talking about the ordinance changes and the need to support the PCOB and OIPM. He acknowledged that Madison has the best ordinance in the nation, because it holds the super power of subpoena. Kathy Luker shared a way to get congregations involved, another great call to action. Other calls to action include calling your alder and expressing the need for the original ordinance and a call to the mayor asking for full funding for at least 1% of the Madison police departments budget to bring the data analyst to full time, hire a case manager and more money for independent council.
A call to action came out for attending and speaking at a PCOB full board meeting on short notice. Our President made a statement of MOSES’ support; Eric spoke passionately about the power the police have and the need for a fully funded OIPM. I asked them to just hire IM Glass as the permanent IM. Barbie supported the ordinance. Jeanie summed it all up by talking about the death of Richard Lee Johnson in police custody and stated this was a call to action.
I’ll leave you with another MOSES Call to Action: MOSES is preparing to testify at the Madison Common Council meeting on August 4th. At that meeting several amendments to the statutes that govern police oversight will be considered. Several amendments have already been proposed to weaken police oversight. Where we stand: Keep the interim IM as permanent, fully fund the OIPM, and keep the original ordinance.
This is how MOSES takes Action.
