Dear Faculty and Staff,

At yesterday’s town hall, I mentioned a stunning fact that for the calendar year of 2022 there have been far more days with mass shootings than without. There have been over 300 so far this year. We are actively working on several actions to prevent and respond to violence, should it occur on our campuses.

Active Shooter Training
Earlier this summer, UWM Police Chief Dave Salazar initiated a complete review of the department’s policies, procedures, resources and training related to prevention, preparedness and response. That included hands-on active shooter training for all officers this summer.

For faculty and staff, there are summer training sessions that cover active shooter topics. Additional sessions will be offered this fall, and I urge you to visit the UWMPD training calendar. The UWMPD welcomes requests for training from departments and work groups. A condensed version of the training is included in the Classroom Safety training offered to instructors each fall and spring in collaboration with the Dean of Students Office.

Crime Prevention and Community Engagement
Chief Salazar has engaged with the Milwaukee and Shorewood Police Departments to address crime occurring near our Milwaukee campus and other locations in the city. The departments increased their intelligence sharing and added the capacity to monitor Milwaukee Police Department’s radio calls. The chief made community engagement a priority for all UWMPD members and grown relationships with our Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Centers for Advocacy and Student Engagement.

This fall, the UWMPD will launch a “citizen’s academy” to provide an opportunity for community members to experience the different facets and challenges our officers face. Interested community members can sign up starting in early September by visiting the UWMPD website. The chief has been engaging with UWM’s Police Community Advisory Committee around a review of UWMPD policies – especially high-impact policies such as use of force and body-worn cameras – and the police department’s vision statement and core values.

I encourage everyone to be informed and to participate in our safety and crime prevention efforts. Across the nation, and closer to home, this year’s gun violence has been heart-wrenching. I know that, as Panthers, we will look out for one another.

Best regards,

Mark A. Mone, PhD
Chancellor