Gov. Walker signs bill to establish police dept. at Marquette

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Governor Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 768 on Monday, April 14th -- increasing public safety in Wisconsin and allowing Marquette University to create a campus police department.

“Marquette University has a proven track record of deterring crime and ensuring the safety of students,” said Governor Walker.  “This bill will allow for continued partnership between the university and the Milwaukee Police Department and is a great example of cooperation between the state, local government and the private sector.”

Assembly Bill 768 – authorizes Marquette University to create a police department and employ university police officers.  University police officers will have the same powers as Milwaukee police officers to prevent crime, enforce laws and ordinances, and make arrests for violations of laws and ordinances.  The Law Enforcement Standards Board will set training and certification standards for the officers.  Currently, Marquette Public Safety Officers do not have the authority to write tickets or make arrests.  Under the bill, the police officers will have the same powers as Milwaukee police offers to maintain order, detect and prevent crime, enforce laws and ordinances, and make arrests for violations of laws and ordinances.

Following the tragedy at Virginia Tech in 2007, the Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety recommended Wisconsin join 21 other states and the District of Columbia to allow police forces on campuses at private colleges and universities. 

Representative Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) and Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) authored the bill, which passed both the Assembly and the Senate on a voice vote; it is Act 265.