Gov. Tony Evers ‘frustrated’ MPS has yet to reinstate school resource officers

State law required the state’s largest school district to do so a year ago.

Gov. Tony Evers said Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) needs to comply with state law and reinstate school resource officers, a provision that was part of last year’s shared revenue law that allowed Milwaukee to raise its sales tax.

“Yeah, I’m frustrated,” Evers said during a briefing with reporters on Friday, January 3, 2025. “I’m frustrated especially that they’ve been working together with the city on the issue of police in schools. That’s part of state law, and they have to obey the law.”

The disagreement between MPS, the city and the police department is ongoing.

A spokesperson for MPS said in a statement Friday, “As MPS does not employ, hire, or train City of Milwaukee police officers, the district is waiting for the city to provide resources for the program.”

A spokesperson for MPD said, “The city, including the Milwaukee Police Department, is operating in good faith in the discussions with MPS. Any questions related to the negotiations between the parties should be routed to their legal representatives.”

State Republican leaders have said they will consider reducing future funding for the state’s largest district if it doesn’t comply.

“If you cannot put school resources officers back under the law, an awful lot of things we do for MPS have to be on the chopping block,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said recently on “UPFRONT on WISN-TV 12.”

Broadly, though, the governor said maintaining the decision on whether to use school resource officers lies with each district.

“That’s a local decision to make,” Evers said. “It’s been successful. Some people, some school districts feel it hasn’t been successful, but the fact of the matter is that MPS, as part of the last budget, needs to finalize that.”