Committee moves forward on $6.25 million COPS hiring grant amid Act 12 constraints

Milwaukee Police Department representatives asked the Public Safety and Health Committee on Jan. 8 to accept and fund a U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program 2025 award totaling $6,250,000.

"This is a $6,250,000 award that would cover a portion of 50 officers for a 3 year period of time," Laura Egan told the committee, adding that the city has five years in which to use the award. Egan said the department is monitoring compliance with Wisconsin's Act 12 and will prioritize use of earlier COPS awards before accessing the COPS 25 funds.

Committee members pressed for details about how the department will reconcile federal grant use with state law. Egan said MPD will review authorized sworn staffing positions, filled positions, and recruit projections at year-end to determine if grant-funded positions can be used without violating Act 12; the department also has a prior COPS award (COPS 22/24) that it expects to use first.

Alderman Scott Speicher moved adoption and referral of the file to the Finance and Personnel Committee; the motion carried without objection. The referral will allow the council's budget and personnel committee to evaluate fiscal impacts and compliance timelines before the city draws down the award.