Historically cold weather this week has created some headaches for local law enforcement officials in Madison.
While crime has been low, according to public information officer Joel DeSpain, the cold temperatures have made their way into various incidents this week.
Part of the reason for the lack of crime has been the closure of both malls in Madison. There are simply fewer opportunities to commit crime, DeSpain said.
However, as students awaited the news of a campus shutdown Tuesday, WiscAlerts began popping in about a robbery on 520 South Park St.
Christian C. Killian’s suspected robbery of a local Pizza Hut launched a multiple-hour search for the suspect, which was further complicated by the sub-zero temperatures.
DeSpain said Madison police’s concern included, “our law enforcement partners in terms of their exposure. We were pulling people from the perimeter and replacing them with others so that they could get a chance to warm up.”
Madison Metro buses were brought around the perimeter of the search in order to warm up the officers on the frontlines according to the City of Madison website.
DeSpain also noted concern over the suspect’s well-being during the search.
“[Killian] was not dressed in a way you were going to survive a lengthy period of time in the wind chills that we had yesterday,” DeSpain said.
Additionally, the suspect broke through the ice of the Marshy UW Arboretum in his attempted escape, exposing him to the water below, causing further concern for his health, according to DeSpain.
Killian was taken to an area hospital for weather-related injuries after his arrest where he remains as he recovers for the immediate future.
DeSpain noted additional issues with the cold internally at the Madison police department, saying one of their primary concerns remains “being able to keep everyone up and responsive to calls. We’ve had some inside baseball type issues of city gas pumps not working very well and squad cars being fueled up.”
Cold weather crimes also have taken the form of a string of car thefts in Madison.
Various Madison residents warming their cars to help alleviate some of the weather’s impact have found their vehicles stolen earlier this week.
Two juveniles are suspected of stealing a car in Fitchburg. Officers located the vehicle near the reported theft site. Upon pulling the car over, the vehicle slid into a snowbank. Both juveniles have been taken to the Juvenile Reception Center.
“We have mostly younger kids stealing these cars so that continues to be an issue even in this cold snap,” DeSpain said.
The Madison police department took a break from the cold weather crimes and found some humor in the conditions this week, posting a humorous Facebook post cancelling all criminal activity. The post suggested criminals should, “stay inside and read, watch Netflix... but for the love of polar bears, do not go outside and commit crimes.”
As campus and businesses begin to make their way out of the freeze this week, local law enforcement along with others will have to deal with fewer complications from the severe cold.
