Milwaukee Common Council committee approves SRO plan, sets up final approval Tuesday

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee police officers are one step closer to returning to Milwaukee schools.

On Monday, March 3, a Common Council committee approved the agreement between the city and the school district.

The full council is expected to make the final approval Tuesday, March 4.

Also Monday, MPS closed the application process as the department works to finalize the list of officers who will serve as SROs.

Meanwhile, the Common Council is doing its part to move things forward, even if alders don't like the plan.

Alderperson Peter Burgelis told us, "We really don't have a choice to vote no."

With their backs against the wall and a "yes" vote all but inevitable, Milwaukee alders still spent an hour-and-a-half behind closed doors Monday sharing input and asking questions.

Ultimately, the measure passed.

Alderperson Bob Bauman said, "We're where we're at, where we should be. But we had the opportunity to be there a lot earlier. And I think it's been, primarily, MPS's fault."

Last week, the judge in the case was particularly critical of the city and Mayor Cavalier Johnson, blaming them for slow negotiations.

On Monday, Johnson responded, saying, "He wasn't in the room. He just wasn't. He doesn't know that, and that's not the fact."

Bauman also said the judge didn't have the facts, and said the city held up its end as best it could. "I think the mayor has handled this as good as he could have, given the fact that the other party was pretty recalcitrant."

MPS's incoming Superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius, has not been involved with the negotiations. But she said the MPS team has briefed her. "I know that they're handling it with urgency for the judge's orders."

But that's not how the city sees it.

Bauman said it was "Basically defiance. They almost took pride in being defiant."

Ultimately the two sides produced a 10-page agreement, and now the end is in sight.

Burgelis said, "I'm glad the judge lit a fire under the city's feet and under the school district's feet."

With the clock ticking, all eyes are on Milwaukee.

Governor Tony Evers said, "This can happen. I'm glad that somehow, it's going to be resolved."

But for the city to avoid $1,000-a-day fines, the judge still needs the names of the officers.

On the plus side, SRO training has been booked for next week.

And the Common Council is expected to approve the agreement Tuesday morning, even with some opposition.

Burgelis said, "There might be some members that have an aversion to law enforcement in schools in principle, and they'll be voting 'no.' But we have to get this done. And we will."

Bauman said Police Chief Jeffrey Norman was reviewing the SRO training contract Monday and was expected to sign it.

This week MPD will interview candidates before making the final selections.