Revised MPD abuse policy urged

Three members of Milwaukee’s Common Council are pressing for updates from the Milwaukee Police Department on its revised policy for investigating officers accused of domestic abuse.

Alds. Milele A. Coggs, Chantia Lewis and José G. Pérez called on the Police Department to testify on the topic during a Public Safety Committee meeting earlier this month in the wake of a murder-suicide involving a Milwaukee police officer.

At the meeting, police officials said they had begun to review the policy long before the murder-suicide and maintained that the policy changes are formalizing existing practices.

The Police Department was notified of officer Leon Davis’ violent behavior several times in the years before he shot Sherida Davis with his department-issued gun before turning it on himself at their northwest side home, according to interviews and records.

In a letter to Police Chief Edward Flynn and MaryNell Regan, executive director of the city’s Fire and Police Commission, the three council members requested a draft of the revised policy or a timeline for when it will be available.

“We are committed to making sure the policy is effective, complete, and providing the safeguards necessary to protect all MPD officers and their families,” the council members wrote.