Officer dishes up service, spaghetti during job shadow program

MADSON, Wis. – For one community center on the south side, Fridays are for food and friendship.

The latest round of the Madison Proximity Project, a job shadow program started by the Madison Police Department earlier this year, took place at the Bridge Lakepoint Waunona Neighborhood Center.

Officer Tyrone Cratic Williams shadowed center director Michelle McKoy.

“We put him to work immediately. I had him hanging window clings and then helping prepare chicken parmesan and spaghetti for our Friday meal,” McKoy said.

The BLW center provides many services to neighbors, such as a food pantry, after-school care and senior programing. But Fridays are reserved for fellowship.

Volunteers and staff spend hours preparing a free community meal. Neighbors can grab a meal to-go or enjoy one together.

“It was nice to see everyone connect. You can tell the people in this community really care for one another,” Tyrone said. “This has been a great opportunity.”

This is the inaugural round of the Madison Proximity Project. The program pairs an MPD officer with a community member. The officer shadows the community member, and, in return, that person goes on a police ride-along.

All participants will meet over a meal later this month to share their takeaways.

Anyone interested in participating in future rounds of the project can email Madison Police Department's Community Engagement Specialist Alex Ricketts at aricketts@cityofmadison.com.