A report from Wisconsin Emergency Management and the National Guard offers criticism and some praise for the response to protests at the Capitol over the governor’s collective bargaining bill.
The report finds the state did not have adequate plans in place to deal with the massive crowds and also failed to establish a clear chain of command between law enforcement and policy makers. It also notes that problems with radios and cell phones inside the Capitol building and a lack of pre-event planning made it harder to coordinate a response.
The report suggests the state establish a clear plan to deal with future demonstrations, which should include designating a command post and establishing ways to communicate with the public about the need for tighter security.
Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch has said he failed to fully grasp the role of his agency in leading Capitol security early on in the protests, and that allowed the situation to get out of control.
