About the Fire and Police Commission
What is the Fire and Police Commission?
The Fire and Police Commission (FPC) is Milwaukee's independent civilian oversight body for public safety. Established under Wisconsin law and the Milwaukee City Charter, the FPC ensures that the city's Fire Department, Police Department, and Department of Emergency Communications are accountable to the people they serve; not just to those who lead them.
What We Do
The FPC sets the standards, asks the hard questions, and makes sure Milwaukee's public safety system works for everyone. That means:
- Hiring and appointing the Chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments and the Emergency Communications Director
- Setting recruitment and testing standards for all positions across the three public safety departments
- Hearing appeals from department employees who believe they've been unfairly disciplined
- Investigating citizen complaints independently and without departmental interference
- Holding employees accountable for misconduct, up to and including termination
Who We Are
The FPC is made up of nine part-time civilian Commissioners and a full-time Executive Director, all appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council. They are not career law enforcement; they are Milwaukee residents from a wide range of backgrounds, serving as the community's voice on public safety matters.
Commissioners serve overlapping five-year terms and are supported by a 27-person professional staff employed by the City of Milwaukee. Together, they work to reduce crime, strengthen public safety, and ensure the city is always prepared to respond to fire and medical emergencies.
The FPC is a proud member of NACOLE, the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, and has adopted the NACOLE Code of Ethics, reflecting our commitment to integrity, transparency, and community trust.
History
Milwaukee has been committed to independent public safety oversight since 1885, making the Fire and Police Commission one of the oldest agencies of its kind in the entire country.
A Foundation Built on Accountability
When the Milwaukee Board of Fire and Police Commissioners was established by state law in 1885, it was a direct response to a system badly in need of reform. Before the Commission existed, mayors appointed police and fire chiefs as political favors, using public safety positions as tools of patronage rather than service. The new law changed that, putting the Commission in charge of setting employment standards, testing candidates, and appointing department chiefs, removing politics from the equation.
Growing Responsibilities
The Commission's role expanded significantly over the following decades. In 1911, its authority grew to cover all aspects of operational oversight of the Fire and Police Departments. By 1968 and 1969, city and state law gave Milwaukee residents the right to file complaints directly with the FPC against Fire and Police Department members. In 1977, the FPC gained public safety rule-making authority, further strengthening civilian oversight.
In 2021, the Common Council created the Department of Emergency Communications (DEC), a new public safety department whose mission is to provide residents and first responders with professional, efficient, and effective 9-1-1 services. The FPC was given responsibility for appointing the DEC Director and overseeing its operations.
A Shift in 2023
In June 2023, Wisconsin Act 12 made a significant change to how public safety policy is set in Milwaukee. Under the new law, the Chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments, rather than the FPC, now hold authority over policies governing the control and management of their departments. Any city effort to suspend or modify a Chief's policy requires approval from two-thirds of the Common Council. The FPC retains the ability to advise the Common Council on recommended policy changes.
Grounded in Law
The Commission's authority and responsibilities are defined by Wisconsin Statute section 62.50 and the Milwaukee City Charter.
Disciplinary Appeals
Every member of the Fire Department, Police Department, and Department of Emergency Communications has the right to a fair process. If an employee believes they have been unjustly dismissed, demoted, or suspended for more than five days, they may appeal that decision directly to the Commission.
The Commission reviews each case independently and has the authority to sustain, modify, or reverse the action taken by the Chief or Director.
Citizen Complaints
Your voice matters. If you have experienced or witnessed misconduct by an employee of the Milwaukee Police Department, Fire Department, or Department of Emergency Communications, the Fire and Police Commission wants to hear from you.
You Have Options
Complaints can be filed directly with the relevant department or with the FPC itself. The Commission has full, independent authority to receive complaints, investigate them, and discipline employees when misconduct is found, up to and including termination.
How to File a Complaint
Filing a complaint is straightforward. You can reach us:
- In person
- By phone
- By mail or in writing
- By email
- Through this website
- Through a recognized community referral organization
What Happens Next
The FPC does not just handle complaints filed directly with us. We also monitor complaints submitted to the Police, Fire, and Emergency Communications departments and independently review their completed investigations. That means an extra layer of oversight, regardless of where your complaint is filed.
Policy Oversight
Day-to-day operations belong to the department Chiefs and Directors. But when it comes to the policies that shape how those departments function, the Fire and Police Commission plays a direct and meaningful role.
What the FPC Oversees
The Commission has full authority to approve and modify all policy decisions for the Department of Emergency Communications. For the Police and Fire Departments, the Commission reviews all new and amended policies, ensuring they meet the standards Milwaukee residents expect.
Every proposed or updated policy goes through a structured review process. The Executive Director and the Commission's Research and Policy Analyst examine each policy before it is placed on a public meeting agenda, where community members can weigh in and the full Commission can deliberate.
Why It Matters
Policy oversight is one of the most powerful tools the FPC has. It is how residents get a real say in the rules that govern policing, firefighting, and emergency communications in their city. It is also how the Commission pushes Milwaukee's public safety departments toward a future that is fairer, more modern, and more responsive to the community they serve.
Recruitment & Testing
Every police officer, firefighter, and emergency communications officer serving Milwaukee has one thing in common: they earned their position through a rigorous, Commission-overseen process. That standard has been in place since 1885 and has never wavered.
A Process Built on Merit
The FPC is committed to building a public safety workforce that reflects the full diversity of Milwaukee. To make that happen, Commission staff administer a comprehensive evaluation process that includes:
- Written examinations
- Physical ability tests
- Oral assessments
- Background investigations
- Medical, drug, and psychological screenings
Applicants who successfully complete every component are ranked by their total score and placed on an eligible list. Firefighters, Police Officers, and Emergency Communications Officers are hired from that list at intervals for training classes, while other entry-level positions are filled as vacancies arise.
Appointing Department Leaders
When a Chief or Director position becomes vacant, the Commission takes the lead. The FPC determines the qualifications, solicits applications, and appoints the best candidate for the role. Chiefs and Directors serve four-year terms, renewable at the Commission's discretion.
No Exceptions, No Shortcuts
Since 1885, not a single person has been appointed or promoted within the Police or Fire Department without Commission approval. That is not just a policy; it is a promise to Milwaukee residents that public safety hiring will always be based on merit, not politics.
Meetings
The Fire and Police Commission conducts its work in public, and that is by design. Every resident of Milwaukee has the right to attend, observe, and speak at Commission meetings. We want to hear from you.
When and Where We Meet
The Commission and its standing committees hold regular business meetings twice a month, except in August, typically on the first and third Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are generally held in the Common Council chambers on the third floor of City Hall, with occasional meetings held in neighborhood locations across the city.
Your Opportunity to Speak
Every regular meeting includes a standing agenda item reserved for citizen input. That means you can raise any public safety concern, ask questions, or share feedback directly with the Commission, at every single meeting.
Stay in the Loop
Meeting times, locations, and agendas are posted in advance through the City of Milwaukee E-Notify and Legistar systems. Sign up so you never miss a meeting that matters to you.
For a printable brochure of the above text, click here for English & here for Spanish.
Rules
The rules of the Fire and Police Commission may be viewed or downloaded here.