City of Madison hires temporary Independent Police Monitor for embattled department

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – Madison now has a temporary Independent Police Monitor after the last person to hold the position resigned. 

The office of the Independent Monitor and the Civilian Police Oversight Board were created in 2020 to give oversight of the police department. These efforts had been discussed for years, but their work began slowly. 

It took almost two years just to get a permanent monitor hired. Ultimately Robin Copley was hired in 2020. She resigned last month citing severe health issues, stalling work again. 

Last year during the budget process, city leaders questioned the office’s success. The mayor even suggested axing it altogether. This year during the budget process, three alders added a last-minute amendment that would’ve defunded the OIM and the CPOB. Ultimately, that amendment failed. 

Now, the board has chosen an interim replacement. Her name is Aeiramique “Meeka” Glass, and most recently, she was the head of police accountability for the Baltimore Police Department. 

“I believe in the power of oversight done right,” she said during a meeting in November during the interview phase of the process. “Oversight that is built on people, policy, partnerships and practices. And what drew me to this role was really the ordinance, and the work you all did to even set up and create the office.”

Glass will fill the role for six to nine months. According to the city’s job listing, if she’s there for the full nine months, she’ll make between $90,584 and $122,287.

“Aeiramique will spend much of December getting oriented to the work of the OIM, before beginning to work through the community engagement process necessary for a full recruitment during the first quarter of next year,” reads a statement from the city.

She will not be eligible to become the permanent Independent Monitor. The Civilian Oversight Board can now start searching for the permanent replacement.