Government

In the summer of 2020, Mayor Cory Mason launched a comprehensive police reform initiative in response to local and national demands for justice, equity, and accountability in policing. This initiative began with a pledge to confront structural racism and to build a public safety system rooted in transparency, community trust, and civil rights.

In June 2020, the City took bold and immediate steps to begin reforming public safety operations:

• Signed onto President Obama’s national 90-day challenge to:
  • Review Racine Police Department (RPD) use-of-force policies,
  • Engage the community in discussion,
  •  Report findings,
  •  Enact meaningful reforms.
• Directed all RPD officers to complete implicit bias training.
• Required all RPD policies to be made publicly available online.
• Established a public-facing police reform website to ensure transparency.
• Created a new Human Resources Generalist for Public Safety to support diverse hiring and recruitment.
• Charged the City’s Affirmative Action & Human Rights Commission and the HR Department with developing a comprehensive plan to:
  • o Increase the racial diversity of the police force,
  • Improve residency representation within the department,
  • Report publicly on progress and strategies.
• Applied for membership in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) to support long-term equity work.
• Formed a Mayor’s Task Force on Police Reform to develop use-of-force recommendations and explore the creation of a civilian oversight mechanism.
• Called on neighboring jurisdictions and the Racine County Sheriff’s Office to join the City in reviewing and reforming law enforcement policies.

To ensure community leadership in the reform process, Mayor Mason convened a Task Force made up of eight Racine residents from diverse backgrounds:

• Carl Fields
• Danielle Johnson
• Chuck Tyler
• Pastor Earnest Ni’A
• Fabi Maldonado, Racine County Board Supervisor
• State Representative Greta Neubauer
• Wally Rendon
• Yolanda Blair

The Task Force was charged with a 90-day mission:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of Racine’s use-of-force policies,
• Examine the feasibility and structure of a Civilian Review Board,
• Present recommendations directly to the Mayor.

The Task Force held five public meetings, all of which were open to community members.

To gather lived experiences and meaningful input from residents, the City organized four virtual Community Conversations throughout 2020. Participants were invited to:

• Share personal stories and ideas for improving public safety,
• Help shape the City’s vision for equitable policing,
• Offer feedback on existing policies and proposed changes.

Insights from these sessions were reviewed by the Task Force and incorporated into their final recommendations.

Transparency has been a foundational principle of Racine’s police reform initiative from the start. From policy disclosure to public engagement, the City prioritized open communication and community trust throughout the reform process.

Key transparency measures included:

• Making all Racine Police Department policies accessible to the public.
• Publishing a comprehensive Police Reform Report that outlines community input and the Task Force’s final recommendations.
• Hosting public meetings of the Mayor’s Task Force on Police Reform and inviting residents to participate.
• Soliciting community feedback through virtual conversations, web forms, and direct outreach.

This approach reflects the City’s belief that public safety reform must be community-informed, data-driven, and continuously evaluated. The City remains committed to continuing open dialogue and transparent reporting as the work on police reform evolves.

Resources associated with the Mayor’s Task Force on Police Reform for the City of Racine include:

The City of Racine continues to welcome public input on police reform and public safety policies. Residents can reach out directly to share experiences, ask questions, or learn more: