Downtown area Madison Police Department Captain Carl Gloede briefed city Council Tuesday about the growing need for both immediate and long-term solutions to address increasing criminal activity taking place near the top of State Street and around the 100 block of West Mifflin Street.
Mayor Paul Soglin requested the MPD look into reversing the recent upswing of infractions taking place in the concentrated area, which Gloede said generated 430 calls for police service since the beginning of 2013, mostly for alcohol use, public urination, drug dealing, batteries and, in one case, a stabbing.
In his report, Gloede said the MPD is researching short-term deterrents such as increasing foot traffic by introducing food carts, festivals and art exhibitions to the space.
More permanent solutions could include physically changing the corridor into an outdoor entertainment venue and removing congestive concrete structures that encourage illegal activity by creating a “labyrinth”effect, according to Gloede.
Soglin identified other government entities—particularly the state Department of Corrections—that treat Madison as a “drop-off point” for dangerous individuals, as a root cause of the problem and called for investigation into ending the practice.
Gloede said the department is investigating ways to rectify the problem, which he attributed to Madison shelters not having adequate background-checking resources and therefore “getting taken advantage of” when the DOC places released convicts back into society.
For example, Milwaukee has a larger population of registered sex offenders with recorded residences, however, Madison outnumbers Milwaukee in unaddressed registered sex offenders, according to Soglin.
Downtown Madison, Inc. President Susan Schmitz said the lack of resources available to homeless men and women also enables criminals who choose to “hide under the guise” of the homeless population.
Schmitz encouraged the Council to establish a permanent day center to assist in reducing crime.
Gloede said the city has dealt with similar behavior in the past, with the activity migrating from Lisa Link Peace Park, located north of the 400 block of State Street, to Concrete Park, between Frances Street and Langdon Street, and now to the intersection of State Street and West Mifflin Street.
Gloede said addressing the pattern is a priority of the department and an issue for which he remains committed to garnering public support and finding creative solutions.
