Madison’s schools and city leaders are voicing support for promoting the city’s interim police chief, John Patterson, to the permanent role, The Capital Times reports. Madison’s Police and Fire Commission is currently interviewing finalists to lead the city’s Police Department following the departure of its former chief, Shon Barnes.
Barnes, upon announcing his resignation last year, recommended the appointment Patterson, then assistant chief, to lead the Madison Police Department (MPD) while the search was conducted for a permanent replacement.
Patterson has almost 30 years of experience in the MPD and an educational background in Spanish, criminal justice, organizational leadership and change. He is now among the applicants for the permanent job.
The commission’s review is ongoing, but public comments shared with the commission show widespread support for Patterson. Superintendent Joe Gothard and City Council President Regina Vidaver are among community members who have voiced support for Patterson.
The commission plans to continue interviewing the job’s 20 applicants in a closed session and then gather additional public feedback before making a final decision at the end of the summer.
