The Marquette Tribune campus news since 1916
Volume 107, Number 1
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
www.marquettewire.org
MUPD to begin wearing body cameras Shift begins after the success of pilot program By Megan Woolard
megan.woolard@marquette.edu
Marquette University Police Department officers will begin wearing body cameras after a summer pilot program. Assistant Chief Jeff Kranz said at this point body cameras are an industry-wide standard, so it made sense for MUPD to get them. “It’s best practice to have (body cameras) and it’s what the community wants from us. They want transparency and getting body cameras improves the transparency of the department, so I think it’s a win on both sides,” Kranz said. MUPD officers have to manually activate the camera any time they take part in a police interaction. Kranz said that means anything that could result in a police report, a ticket or an arrest. “You watch the footage, a lot of times, that’s going to be what’s going to prove the facts of the case. It’s this neutral eye that’s going to be watching what the officers are doing, and we’re proud of their work so we’re happy to get that information out to the public,” Kranz said. The camera is about the size of a smartphone, but thicker. Once the camera is activated it
Photo courtesy of Isabel Bonebrake isabel.bonebrake@marqueuette.edu
The summer pilot program consisted of 8-10 officers wearing body cameras. MUPD got partial funding through the Wisconsin DOJ.
has the ability to pick up 30 seconds of video, with no sound, prior to when the officer pushed the button to activate. “I would say the one challenge that we’re seeing is getting the officers that muscle memory that they’re tapping this button every time that we’re interacting with somebody,” Kranz said. During the pilot program, Kranz said MUPD had to establish a system on how to classify and download the body camera footage. Though MUPD has used
dashboard cameras since its formation in 2015, the body cameras aren’t operated through the same system. “Axon is our body camera system and it’s a different older system in our squads. When that becomes outdated, we’re going to switch it all over to that same system,” Kranz said. The pilot program, which began June 1, issued body cameras to 8-10 MUPD officers and two sergeants. Throughout the pilot program MUPD said there was at
least one camera active at all times. MUPD has not yet established a policy for when or how body camera footage will be released. “I think it’ll be pretty similar to what you see in the industry. We haven’t gotten to that point yet, we’re going to be kind of feeling our way through that, but I think it’ll be pretty similar across the board the way videos get released,” Kranz said. According to a 2021 survey by the Wiscon-
sin Department of Justice most agencies hold body camera and dashboard footage for at least 90 days. There are currently no local or state laws that set a timeframe for body camera footage release. MUPD received partial funding of the project through the Body-Worn Cameras Grant Program launched by the Wisconsin Department of Justice in 2022. UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison’s police department also utilize body cameras.
owners Shana Gray and Andren Jett. Jett said Gray Jett has been featured in Marquette Dining takeovers for the past four months at the Alumni Memorial Union, which helped build momentum for the official opening. Dining takeovers are when different restaurants are featured in Marquette Place, a dining option for students, for a certain period of time. The surrounding communities welcomed the café with open arms, with lines on opening weekend stretching
halfway down W. Wells Street. Gray said the support and love from the community has been mind-blowing. “This is why we had the buildup, to finally see your vision come through. The enjoyment of seeing people, meeting new people you never knew existed, who become friends and regulars … it’s not just being a customer, it’s a one-on-one personalized experience,” Jett said. Jett said the BBQ Brisket, Jerk Tacos and the Buddha Bowl have
been popular items on the menu. “We’ve been able to take those flavors from jackfruit or walnut and create a delicious dish that you would never know you’re missing meat but still eating something healthy,” Jett said. Jett said this area previously had a deficit of choices, most of them being fast food. Victoria Pawlowski, a sophomore in the College of Nursing, tried the vegan café on opening day. “The manager was walking around greeting ev-
eryone and making sure everything tasted good. You could tell this restaurant mattered to everyone who was there running it … In the coming weeks, the restaurant will run more and more smoothly as the staff gets into the groove,” Pawlowksi said. Pawlowksi said she would definitely be returning to the café, as she enjoyed her experience and the food. “From my perspective, almost everything on the menu is something fun and flavorful, even if
Index
News
Sports
A&E
New director, Marilyn Jones, MU alum gives details on new center
Marquette volleyball with tough schedule full of ranked opponents
Marquette Theatre reflecting on a century worth of program history
Gray Jett Café opens on Marquette’s campus
Family-owned vegan restaurant welcomes students By Trinity Zapotocky
trinity.zapotocky@marquette.edu
Gray Jett Café officially opened its doors to the Marquette and Milwaukee communities Aug. 25. The café specializes in vegan and vegetarian menus, while offering non-vegan alternatives. The name, Gray Jett, is the combination of the last names of
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SPORTS.....................................................5 OPINIONS.................................................9 CROSSWORD.............................................10 COMICS......................................................10 A&E.............................................................11
Student Success
Uphill Battle
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See JETT page 2
Celebrating 100 years PAGE 12