University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Monday, September 14, 2015
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COMMUNITY PROFILE
UWPD K9 Unit boosts police efficiency, ensures campus safety
By Bailey NachreinerMackesey The Daily Cardinal
While thousands of people filled Camp Randall for kickoff Saturday morning, police dog Odin and his handler Sgt. Brent Plisch’s work began hours earlier, running security sweeps on the venue to ensure spectators’ safety. Odin, a Czech-born German Shepherd trained in obedience, human trafficking and explosive detection, has been with UW-Madison Police Department since 2010. He is part of the three-dog K9 Unit that performs approximately 175 deployments every year on campus, from securing venues before events and responding to bomb threats to performing dignitary protection for high-profile guests such as the president and Dalai Lama.
After he was selected as a prospective service dog based on traits like his responsiveness to stimuli and commitment to following through with tasks, Odin was imported to an agency in North Carolina where Plisch then joined him for a month-long training, which also served as critical bonding time for them. “He didn’t have any close human contact with anyone before me,” Plisch said. “I did everything for him. I cared for him, I provided him with his food and water, I took him for walks ... He learned that at that point I was his human and he was my dog.” As one of few dogs trained in explosive detection in Wisconsin, Odin’s work is not limited to the UW campus. He and Plisch are oftentimes called on to respond
to threats across the state assisting smaller departments. “For us, Odin is a very costeffective tool because he can go and clear an entire concourse of the stadium and other large venues in 30 minutes when it would take many officers multiple hours to complete,” Plisch said. This cost, however, is no small investment for a police department. “The total cost for a canine team, the start-up cost, is probably about $65,000 to $70,000 as well as an eight- to 10-year commitment from the handling officer,” Plisch said. This investment goes beyond just the budgetary commitment, additionally requiring a minimum of 16 training hours per month as well as annual certification through third party organization The North American Police Work Dog Association.
Courtesy of UW-Madison Police Department
Odin began training for his rare and highly specialized role at a very young age, and has worked with UWPD for five years.
Retail, entertainment compete for State Street space By Michael Frett The Daily Cardinal
Late last July, Taylor Beebe began planning for her new restaurant, a small fries shop among State Street’s wellknown stretch of restaurants
and specialty stores. By the end of the year, Mad City Frites was open, offering Belgian-style fries to the daily shoppers and stoppers through Madison’s commercial center. Nine months later, Beebe,
the 23-year-old owner and manager of Mad City Frites, stood before the Madison City Council, hoping to secure an alcohol license for her restaurant. That meeting broke out in a charged debate, one that
started on Beebe’s restaurant and ended in an argument over the decline of retail and the future of State Street. “We’re going to end up, if we don’t do something, like Bourbon Street and other
streets in this country that are predominantly entertainment,” Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said in opposition to granting an alcohol license. “This license
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Lawmakers propose new John Doe rules By Andrew Bahl The Daily Cardinal
Legislative leaders said Friday they would take up a bill next month that would exempt many political crimes from the purview of secret John Doe investigations. The bill comes after the conclusion of a series of John Doe investigations into alleged campaign violations committed by Gov. Scott Walker and his staff while he served as Milwaukee County Executive and during the 2012 recall elections. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and
State Street
Out for a jog
Athletes in the 2015 IRONMAN Wisconsin competition complete the running portion of the event. Read more on Sports, page 7. + Photo by Thomas Yonash
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a joint statement the bill would prevent investigations from being used for political purposes. “We look forward to the final legislative passage of the bill that reaffirms free speech, puts an end to unconstitutional investigations for political purposes, and continues to give investigators the tools needed to solve serious crimes,” the Republican leaders said in the statement. The proposal, authored by state Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, and state Rep.
Dave Craig, R-Big Bend, would allow John Doe investigations to be used for only the most serious felonies and would require judges to approve any investigations lasting longer than six months. The state’s John Doe laws allow prosecutors and judges to subpoena witnesses in secret, placing those who testify under a gag order. Conservative activists have long said the probes lack transparency and stifle free speech. “Free speech is the foundation of a free society,” Eric Bott, director of the conser-
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Sexual assault reported in university residence hall A sexual assault was reported to have occurred in a university residence hall early Saturday, according to a UW-Madison Police Department notice sent to students Sunday night.
UWPD is currently investigating the assault, which was reported to the department the next day. The involved individuals reportedly knew each other prior to the assault. The crime warning was sent
in compliance with the Clery Act, a law enforced by the U.S. Department of Education that requires the university to inform the public of any crime on or near campus in a timely manner.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”