Madison Reporter

MADISON, Wis. –  A Captain with the Madison Police Department, Stephanie Drescher, was honored in Las Vegas last week for her work as a rising police leader and her research on domestic violence homicides. Captain Drescher received the 2024 Past President Scholarship at the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) conference.

During the conference, Captain Drescher participated in a panel discussing the benefits of the Policing Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago Crime Lab for local communities. She was part of the first class of the Police Leadership Academy, which focused on addressing gun violence and included police leaders from various cities in the US and the UK.

Captain Drescher's research interest stemmed from a rise in domestic violence-related homicides in the Madison community. Working closely with Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS), she conducted a community capstone project on prevention, outreach, and ways the Madison Police Department (MPD) can support individuals affected by domestic violence.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes commended Captain Drescher's dedication, stating, "You can see how much Captain Drescher cares about people in her work product. She has a compassion for helping others. Our department is learning a lot from her research, and she is demonstrating our department’s dedication to Evidence-Based Policing."

Captain Drescher, who joined MPD in 2009, currently holds the position of Executive Section and Operations Captain, showcasing her commitment to improving policing practices and supporting her community.