Fire and Police Commission discusses Milwaukee Police pursuit policy

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The back and forth about the Milwaukee Police Department's pursuit policy continued Thursday. 

"I just can’t get past the idea that you’re willing to put people in danger," said one woman who spoke during public comment at a Fire and Police Commission meeting.  

"We're not willing to put anybody in danger," said Milwaukee Police Assistant Chief Ray Banks, "We don’t want to pursue people, that’s not what we want to do, we don’t show up to work and look for a car to pursue."

On the Fire and Police Commission's agenda Thursday, were changes to the policy, including a shift commander's responsibility to notify the criminal investigation bureau in certain situations. Pursuit reports will now be reviewed in 30 days instead of 17 days, so district commanders can look at them, and there are changes to steps officers take when they don't pursue. 

Commissioners voted to approve those changes, but much of the discussion during the meeting was about pursuits overall, and how the Milwaukee Police Department should address them. 

"I think we need to balance what we need," said Commissioner Nelson Soler. 

"If there was a sliver bullet where we could fix this problem, we would have it," added Banks. 

"My struggle has always been, where’s the happy medium? Cause you really are darned if you do and darned if you don’t," said Commissioner Ann Wilson. 

Soler says they plan to hold public meetings in the future about the pursuit policy.