Madison and Dane County police unions released a joint statement Wednesday criticizing the Capitol Police’s handling of recent protests at the Capitol in late August and early September.
Under new Capitol Police Chief David Erwin’s leadership, Capitol police have issued more than 20 tickets in the last few weeks to protesters who failed to follow a new policy requiring groups of four or more gathering in the Capitol to apply for a permit up to 72 hours in advance.
Madison Professional Police Officers Association and Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association criticized the recent crackdown against people they consider “peaceful protesters.”
“Officers have been ordered to arrest and cite protesters whose only offense is the silent carrying of a sign,” the union groups said in a joint statement. “Other protesters have been cited for gathering for the ‘Solidarity Sing-along,’ a non-violent group of citizens who sing every day over the noon hour.”
Erwin responded with a statement Wednesday, calling the condemnation “unfortunate,” especially coming from another police union.
“This is not an issue about saying what you want,” Erwin said in the statement. “It’s about sharing the space at the Capitol and there is a process to do it.”
