Serious Concerns Over Milwaukee Police Chiefs Training Trip to Israel

The Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance (WMCA) is deeply troubled by Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman’s participation in a counterterrorism training program in Israel from December 1–7, 2024, sponsored by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA). This trip, occurring amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, raises serious concerns about the potential adoption of tactics that could harm marginalized communities, including Muslims, in Milwaukee. We stand with residents who expressed strong opposition at the recent Fire and Police Commission meeting. Learning from Israeli national police, whose methods have faced widespread international criticism, risks importing militarized approaches that could erode trust and lead to increased surveillance or profiling of Black, brown, and immigrant communities.