Community leaders and neighbors held meeting to discuss change following recent police-involved shooting

Madison Police Department Central District Captain Carl Gloede answers questions about policing practices from concerned citizens. (Laura Schmitt/Madison Commons)

Madison residents and elected officials gathered at the Williamson-Marquette Neighborhood Center Monday evening to discuss policing practices and mental health following a fatal shooting last month.  

The discussion lasted two hours and centered on topics such as de-escalation, how officers are debriefed after fatal shootings and the training police officers receive on how to handle situations involving a person with mental health issues.

Eastside resident Margaret Pope attended the meeting to help bring clarity and comfort to the situation.

“With everything going on nationally and in our very own community, it’s important to try to understand where the problems lie,” Pope said. “Conversations like this help build unity and restore trust.”

Carl Gloede, Madison Police Department central district captain, answered questions and participated in discussion with over 50 concerned neighbors looking for answers regarding the death of a Near Eastside resident last month. 

Michael Schumacher, 41, was fatally shot and killed by a Madison Police officer on June 30 after he allegedly aggressed toward the officer with a pitchfork. The officer was called to the scene after 911 calls were made describing Schumacher “acting strangely” while waist-deep in Lake Monona and later breaking into a house on Morrison Street.

Schumacher, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison two decades ago, suffered from chronic and persistent mental illness. At the time of his death, Schumacher was a resident of Housing Initiatives, a program that provides a permanent home and supportive services for previously homeless people struggling with mental illness.

Dean Loumos, executive director of Housing Initiatives, attended the meeting Monday and sparked conversation about what changes can be taken to ensure deaths like Schumacher’s can be prevented.

“I am 100 percent certain this is not the outcome the officer wanted nor what they went there to do,” Loumos said. “However, we are at a transformative moment in our country where everything has become militarized. Combatants are trained to go kill the enemy, but our police department is trained to serve and protect people.”

Several neighbors suggested police officers should respond more wearily to calls reporting someone “acting strangely,” language often used to characterize someone with a mental illness.

Madison residents gather in the main room of the Wil-Mar Community Center to discuss the recent police shooting. (Laura Schmitt/Madison Commons)

Captain Gloede said Madison officers are trained to respond differently in situations involving a person with a mental illness, but 911 calls describing someone or something strange are fairly common. It’s not until officers are on site that the situation becomes totally clear.

“Information is so critical, and the more information we have, the better we can address the situation,” Gloede said. “Without context, it’s really hard to conclude what certain information may mean. The reality is, all our training, all our senses kick in when we get on scene.”

While Gloede stated Madison police officers have extensive training in issues concerning mental illness, it’s difficult to always recognize such situations.

“In a crisis, things happen very fast,” Gloede said. “The luxury of going, ‘Timeout. I need to process this and make the right choice every time’ is not always possible. It can become very difficult, but no officer wants to have a day like that one.” 

The Department of Justice is currently investigating Schumacher’s death and will offer a report to his family in the upcoming weeks.