Wisconsin Capitol Police

The Wisconsin State Capitol Police is a police force maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, and is responsible for policing the Wisconsin State Capitol, state government facilities and the protection of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin State Capitol Police
Patch
Patch
Common nameWisconsin Capitol Police
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionWisconsin, U.S.
General nature
Specialist jurisdictions
  • Buildings and lands occupied or explicitly controlled by the institution and the institution's personnel, and public entering the buildings and precincts of the institution.
  • Protection of international or domestic VIPs, protection of significant state assets.
Operational structure
Headquarters17 W. Main St, Madison, WI
Agency executive
Parent agencyWisconsin Department of Administration
Website
Official website

History

The origins of the force date to 1881, when five police officers were employed at the Wisconsin State Capitol. In 1903, this was increased to eight police officers, supported by two night watchmen. In 1911, the eight police officers were under the supervision of the Superintendent of Public Property.[2]

In 1969, a Catholic priest, Father James Groppi, organized the "Welfare Mothers' March on Madison". 1000 welfare mothers occupied the chamber of the State Assembly for 11 hours, in protest against planned welfare cuts.[3] In response, the State Legislature replaced the then Capitol Security force with the "State Protective Services", which saw the force grow to 66 police officers and 13 detectives, responsible for providing law enforcement services at the Capitol and other Department of Administration facilities in the state.[2]

In 2000, law enforcement responsibilities for the State Fair Park in West Allis were transferred from the Wisconsin State Fair Park Police Department to the Capitol Police and the two departments merged. In 2008, the two were again separated. In 2004, Governor Jim Doyle proposed merging the Capitol Police with the State Patrol.[4] In 2010, the force had 48 full-time employees.[5] The force was officially renamed "Wisconsin State Capitol Police" in 2013, and new black uniforms and redesigned patches were issued.[2]

Structure

The Capitol Police have statewide jurisdiction to enforce criminal and civil laws. They are responsible for security at all state owned and leased facilities, and oversee events and demonstrations that take place on state property. They provide protection to the Governor, family, Lieutenant Governor, and other high ranking dignitaries. The headquarters of the Capitol Police are located in the Risser Justice Center in Madison, with substations in the State Capitol and the Milwaukee State Office Building.[6]

Patrol Operations Section

Patrol Operations is the uniformed section of the force, with officers in Madison and Milwaukee. It is responsible for providing uniformed police officers who patrol Department of Administration managed properties on foot or in vehicles. The Section is responsible for crowd management during events and political demonstrations.

The Patrol Operations Section also includes an Executive Residence Detail composed of specially trained police officers assigned to the Wisconsin Executive Residence to protect the State Governor. [6]

Specialized Services Section

The Capitol Police Specialized Services Section has three units: The Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU), the Communications Unit (COMU), and the Infrastructure Security Unit (ISU). [6]

Criminal Investigations Unit

The Criminal Investigations Unit conducts criminal investigations, prepares and executes search warrants and subpoenas, preserves and collects evidence, provides victim services, manages court services, and assists the patrol, dignitary, and security units as required. The Criminal Investigations Unit processes over a thousand court cases each year.[6]

Executive Residence Detail

The Executive Residence Detail provides protective security to the Governor of Wisconsin, their family, the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, and other high ranking dignitaries who work for and visit the state.[6]

K-9 Unit

The K-9 Unit consists of one handler and one police dog, trained in detecting explosives, trained in "vapor wake" detection.[6]

Unmanned Aircraft Unit

The Capitol Police operates an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), used for law enforcement purposes, as well as emergency management, crime scene investigation and missing person searches.[6]

See also

References
  1. "DOA Wisconsin State Capitol Police Management Team". doa.wi.gov. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. "DOA Wisconsin State Capitol Police History". doa.wi.gov. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. Dennis McCann. "Groppi led Assembly takeover to protest welfare cuts in '69". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 22, 1998. "Groppi led Assembly takeover to protest welfare cuts in '69". Archived from the original on March 7, 2003.
  4. "Wisconsin Plan Would Consolidate State Patrol and Capitol Police". www.govtech.com. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  5. "Wisconsin Capitol Police" (PDF). Capitol Beat. IACP Capitol Police Section. February 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  6. "DOA Wisconsin State Capitol Police: What We Do". doa.wi.gov. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
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