After protests, La Crosse Police, as promised, launch “transparency tab” on website

A four-hour protest in La Crosse last night, demanded that city leaders help make changes to curb racism and police violence.

About 500 people gathered in Riverside Park to listen to multiple people of color speak, before they all marched to City Hall.

Doing most of the talking was La Crosse native Katrina Sletten but, at City Hall both La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat and Police Chief Shawn Kudron pledged the city would make changes.

“I know you’re frustrated and I know you’re demanding change,” Kudron said. “I’m hear to listen but more importantly I’m hear tonight to act. I’m here tonight to move the La Crosse Police Department forward to make the change that you’re seeking. I do ask for your commitment. Your commitment to work with me and the police department. Your commitment to express your frustrations. And your commitment to help me find the answers.”

After that, Kudron said a transparency tab on the police’s website would go live today.

It did. Right here (click).

On that page, it reads, in part, “The La Crosse Police Department does not want a questioning public, but an informed public. We believe the more informed you become, the better you will understand YOUR police department. We encourage you to look through the following information and contact us with questions.”

After that, there is information on things like “Use of Force” reports from the past two years, “Budget and Overtime” amounts the past three years, as well as training and policies and other information.

The city also launched a site (click here) where people can sign up to get updates on a multitude of city entities, including community and housing, the fire department and 14 other areas.