No SROs in MPS schools by Thursday's court-ordered deadline: City of Milwaukee to ask for delay

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The city of Milwaukee says it cannot comply with a judge's order to return MPD officers to MPS schools by Thursday, Feb. 27.

According to new court documents, the city will ask the judge Thursday morning to delay that deadline.

The city argues it is bound by state law to require common council approval first, and that officers must be trained before starting the job.

But Judge David Borowski may not accept that argument.

Regardless, what's clear is SROs will not be in MPS schools by the court-ordered deadline, and likely for a few more weeks after that.

There are two main holdups:

The first is there is still no formal memorandum of understanding that outlines the program.

The second is the future SROs do not yet have mandatory training.

This week, the district said it would be ok with officers starting without the MOU in place.

But an update letter from the city said, "the City cannot agree", adding it "cannot deploy officers in any event without definitive duties and responsibilities in place."

With all the delays, State Representative Bob Donovan of Milwaukee wants consequences. He told us Wednesday, "Enough's enough. I mean, how long is this going to… One excuse after another."

Donovan said the law has been ignored for more than a year. "I hope the judge, Judge Borowski, holds them accountable and throws some people in jail."

For months, the city has claimed to want to get a deal done as soon as possible.

At a news conference back on January 7, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said, "I want to get it done as soon as possible. I think it's important. I think it's needed."

Donovan said he heard the same from MPD. "The chief told me, well over a year ago, that the Milwaukee Police Department was ready to go."

Which gets to the second holdup: last week, Judge Borowski said merely enrolling officers in state-mandated training would satisfy the court order.

But that could also take a while because MPD does not know which 25 officers will serve as SROs yet.

An internal MPD memo shows applications close next Monday, a panel will interview those that make the cut, then the chief will make the final selections.

Only then will the prospective SROs begin a five-day training.

Judge Borowski voiced his displeasure with the delays at last week's hearing, when he said, "The gall and the temerity of, again primarily the school board, but to the lesser degree the city is breathtaking."

The city also claims the only way it can approve an MOU is through the common council process.

A special meeting to start approving the mou is scheduled for Friday, one day after the deadline.

So while a delay is all but certain, it's not yet known if Judge Borowski will grant the city's request for relief or if he'll still hold the city to his deadline and levy stiff penalties.

That could be decided at Thursday morning's court hearing at 10 a.m.