The Madison Police Department (MPD) has created a new task force to help identify and prevent hate crimes in Madison, according to the city of Madison. The task force was proactively formed to address bias-motivated threats, harassment, and violence throughout Madison. It includes positions from MPD’s investigative, community outreach, and records units.
Members will investigate reported incidents, assist affected communities when an incident is verified, and work with community members to proactively report any warning signs of bias-motivated crimes.
The U.S. Department of Justice tracks hate crimes state by state. The task force would not change how hate crime data is reported. Statewide, hate crimes have roughly doubled in recent years. In 2023, the MPD referred a hate crime enhancer 21 times to the district attorney.
The 90-day task force launched on Jan. 3. It will be followed by a rigorous evaluation period.
