Muncey gives update on department, school safety at luncheon
Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey speaks to guests at the monthly Madison Chamber of Commerce luncheon on March 21. (RECORD PHOTO/ALDO AMATO)
By Aldo Amato
Staff Reporter
MADISON – Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey spoke to a room of city officials, business officials and company representatives March 21 and gave an update on the Madison Police Department.
Muncey spoke at the monthly Madison Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at the Best Western Plus. Muncey discussed topics ranging from the department’s budget to statistics and demographics.
But perhaps what stood out the most from Muncey’s presentation was his assurance that schools across Madison are safe with his officers in them.
“It all goes back to the relationship between our officers and students,” he said. “We have a great relationship between our department and school administrators and I personally am in contact with Dr. Dee Fowler and stay connected constantly with Madison City Schools.”
Muncey was asked what the department is doing in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shootings. He said he recalls three years ago to when Discovery Middle School student Todd Brown was shot and killed and the school was placed on lockdown.
“At the time my son was going there and he called to tell me there had been a shooting,” he said. “At first I thought he was joking but when I realized he wasn’t, I wanted to know what the plan was.”
On that day, Muncey was between Birmingham and Madison and he described it as “the longest drive of my life.”
Muncey said that the department is doing all they can to have a fail-proof plan for school emergencies and says he has and exceptional staff and force working with the schools.
Among other highlights in Muncey’s presentation included an update on the budget, information on crime statistics and brief information on programs like the Citizen Police Academy, Rape Aggression Defense Course (RAD) and other free community safety programs.
“We never want you to be still or be a victim,” he said. “If someone is there to hurt you, we never want you to wait to fight. We aren’t and never will wait to fight for our citizens.”
