Police and Fire Commission (PFC)
Announcing the Next Chief of Police
Following a comprehensive process and after thorough deliberations, the PFC has selected Acting Chief John Patterson to be the City of Madison’s next Chief of Police. The PFC expresses its support and confidence in his leadership. As is standard practice, the PFC will now be issuing a Conditional Offer of Appointment.
“I want to congratulate Chief Patterson on being selected by the Police & Fire Commission to be Madison’s next Police Chief. I’ve been impressed by the leadership he’s shown as acting chief and his many years with MPD,” says Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “We share a commitment to data-driven policing that focuses on a holistic approach to public safety. Chief Patterson is committed to serving our community and I look forward to continuing to work with him to fine-tune an already strong department.”
Chief Patterson says he’s had the privilege of being a member of the Madison Police Department for 27 years and is honored by this opportunity.
“I can’t quite put into words how incredibly humbled I feel right now to be named the next permanent Chief of Police of the Madison Police Department. I love our community and this police department,” says Chief Patterson. “I look forward to furthering our commitment to improving trust and relationships with the community, reinforcing our commitments to community policing and the principles of procedural justice, prioritizing effective communication and transparency, and ensuring that data-informed decision making and effective problem solving are always at the foundation of our everyday operations.”
The PFC would like to thank all applicants for being part of this process, especially the finalists. The PFC is grateful for all of the input that it received from the community throughout this process. The PFC also wishes to thank the Dane County Sheriff’s Office for its professional background investigations.
Chief of Police, John Patterson
John Patterson is a 27-year veteran of the Madison Police Department and currently serves as the Acting Chief of Police. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Change from Edgewood College.
Throughout his career, Acting Chief Patterson has served every area and neighborhood of Madison in the roles of Patrol Officer, Neighborhood Officer, Traffic Officer, Narcotics Investigator, Traffic Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Lieutenant of Patrol and Detectives, Captain, and as the Assistant Chief with oversight of police training and hiring, MPD’s annual operating and capital budgets, and community outreach efforts. Additionally, he has served as a member and later as a commander on both of MPD’s major specialized teams – the SWAT team and Special Events Team.
Dedicated to service and continuous improvement, Acting Chief Patterson views the role of the police as caretakers in the community, and he is committed to enhancing police-community interactions and collaborations, fostering transparency, and achieving better outcomes for individuals and the community as a whole.