Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Expressing sincere appreciation to Madison Police Department Chief of Police, Dr. Shon F. Barnes for his 4 years of dedicated service to the City of Madison.
Body
WHEREAS, Shon F. Barnes was hired as the Chief of Police for the Madison Police Department on February 1, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, Chief Barnes will resign from the Madison Police Department on February 1, 2025, to assume the role of Chief of Police in Seattle, Washington; and,
WHEREAS, Chief Barnes led the MPD honorably by remaining committed to the department’s mission, vision, and core values while striving to be the national model for policing, through community partnerships, evidence-based policing, and research informed practice; and,
WHEREAS, Chief Barnes guided the MPD through the first strategic planning process in many years and helped establish a five-year plan that prioritizes Madison-centric policing, public communication, youth engagement, and workplace culture; and,
WHEREAS, Chief Barnes supported and encouraged his staff’s collaboration and support for Madison’s Police Civilian Oversight Board and the Office of the Independent Monitor; and,
WHEREAS, through Chief Barnes’ leadership and guidance, the Madison Police Department successfully implemented Stratified Policing, an evidence-based crime reduction and prevention model that has demonstrated significant reductions in victimization in both persons and property crimes, has led to increasing community engagement in Madison, and has strengthened accountability practices within the ranks of the MPD towards crime prevention efforts founded on actionable and timely data, and,
WHEREAS, Chief Barnes has successfully positioned the MPD to remain committed to data informed decision-making, a strong crime prevention and reduction model, evidence-based policing practices, and effective and collaborative problem solving with the Madison community for many years to come; and,
WHEREAS, Chief Barnes has regularly encouraged his staff to always research, study, and explore new evidence-based models and practices as a strong commitment to the continuous improvement of police services for our community, and,
WHEREAS, Chief Barnes recently led MPD’s response to the incredibly tragic incident at the Abundant Life Christian School, and did so with distinction, a high degree of professionalism, and with the utmost respect for the victims of that incident, our first responders, the Abundant Life School community, and the entire Madison community;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the Madison Common Council express their sincere appreciation to Madison Police Chief Shon F. Barnes for his years of dedicated service and many accomplishments while leading the Madison Police Department.