Dozens of Milwaukee residents and organizers gathered July 13 at the intersection of 35th and Vliet Streets on the North Side to press the city for stricter limits on police vehicle chases following a deadly crash that occurred there in September 2025.
The September collision killed three people, including a 15-year-old, and has driven a sustained campaign for new rules governing when Milwaukee Police Department officers may engage in high-speed pursuits. The rally on Monday featured comments from long-time activists and community groups calling for changes to the department’s Standard Operating Procedures 575 and 660.
What organizers want and why it matters
Speakers at the gathering said they want pursuit policies that sharply restrict chases to serious, violent offenses and reduce risks to bystanders. Brian Verdin, a leader with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, opened the event and cited the lives lost in pursuit-related crashes.
"I want to have a safe police pursuit policy that has restrictions, where we're not chasing people for minor things, only for violent crime,"
The remark came from veteran MAARPR member Tiffany Stark, who has been active in the campaign and has lost a family member to causes tied to police pursuits. Groups including Milwaukee Turners and Black Leaders Organizing Communities also spoke, urging elected officials to support community-recommended changes.
- Location: 35th and Vliet Streets, Milwaukee North Side
- Organizers: Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Milwaukee Turners, Black Leaders Organizing Communities
- Policy focus: SOP 575 and SOP 660 governing police pursuits
Next steps at City Hall
The Milwaukee Common Council is scheduled to take up further discussion of SOP 575 and 660 on July 30. Organizers said they will continue to press alderpeople to adopt the revisions the community has urged. Kayla Patterson, co-chair of MAARPR, led closing chants at the rally and reiterated plans to maintain pressure ahead of the council review.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rally date | July 13, 2026 |
| Council discussion | July 30, 2026 |
| Policies in focus | SOP 575, SOP 660 |
Advocates say the goal is to change enforcement practices so that pursuit decisions prioritize public safety and limit chases to instances where there is an immediate threat of serious violence. City officials have not released additional public details about proposed language changes ahead of the Common Council discussion; alderpeople will consider amendments and public testimony during that meeting.
The rally marks another public demonstration demanding accountability and policy reform after a high-profile crash on a Milwaukee neighborhood street. As the July 30 council date approaches, organizers have signaled they will continue mobilizing residents to influence the outcome at City Hall.
