Police and Fire Commission (PFC)
Upcoming Meetings
| Monday, Jul. 14, 2025 | 5:30pm | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Jul. 17, 2025 | 5:00pm | ||||
| Monday, Jul. 21, 2025 | 5:00pm |
Final Candidates for Chief of Police
Stephanie Drescher
Captain Stephanie Drescher has been with the Madison Police Department for 16 years and is currently the Captain of Training, where she focuses on advancing the future of policing through professional, personal and cultural development. Captain Drescher is a lifelong resident of the greater Madison area and recognizes the unique challenges that face residents on a daily basis. She believes the key to a thriving community revolves around a collaborative and comprehensive approach with community voice at the center.
Captain Drescher earned a bachelor's degree in History and Religious Studies from Edgewood College and graduated from the University of Chicago's Policing Leadership Academy inaugural class in 2023. Her final research project focused on reducing domestic violence homicides in Madison, data that has helped change the way these crimes are investigated in our city.
Steven Johnson
Assistant Chief Steven Johnson joined the Milwaukee Police Department in May 1997 and has held a diverse range of leadership roles, including assignments to Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7, as well as the Sensitive Crimes Division (SCD) and the Technical Communication Division. Promoted to Police Sergeant in May 2007, Police Lieutenant in November 2017, Captain of Police in September 2020, and advanced to Assistant Chief of the Patrol Bureau in December 2021, overseeing all patrol operations and personnel assigned to Districts 1-7 and the Specialized Patrol Division (1,080+ personnel; including 2 Inspectors and 10 Captains).
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia. He has completed numerous leadership programs, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police (LPO), the FBI National Academy (Session 284), and the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA), for which he earned the Trilogy Award.
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.