John Patterson will stay on permanently as Madison Police Chief

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – Madison’s interim police chief will keep the job permanently. 

Former chief Shon Barnes left the department earlier this year to lead the Seattle police force. His assistant chief John Patterson was his recommendation for an interim chief, and the Police and Fire Commission agreed. 

There were three finalists for the Chief of Madison Police. They included Patterson, Madison PD Captain of Training Stephanie Drescher, and Milwaukee PD Assistant Chief Steven Johnson. 

The Madison Police and Fire Commission chose Patterson as the permanent chief Wednesday night. 

During his taped interview, Patterson touted his connection to the Madison community. 

“Over the last 27 years, I’ve committed myself to forming deep relationships and trust with our community. I’ve emphasized the tenets of community policing and procedural justice,” he said. “I’ve prioritized effective communication and transparency, and I’ve worked to ensure that data is always at the foundation of our operations.” 

Patterson has been with the Madison Police Department for 27 years. He has experience leading the mental health unit and SWAT team. He’s an alumna of UW-Madison. 

“Madison is the only community that I want to serve,” Patterson said.