
Tyler Grigg, the Madison Police Department's new public information officer, says he wants to be transparent, timely and creative in the ways he shares information about the city's police force. He also hopes he can help build trust with the community.
After nearly 12 years as a Madison police officer, Tyler Grigg is trading in his badge and gun for a cellphone, extra keyboard, computer monitors and a camera — his new tools for heading up the Police Department’s communications with the public.
Grigg, 37, took over as the department’s full-time public information officer Tuesday, when longtime police spokesperson Joel DeSpain officially retired after 13 years in the position.
Grigg’s start comes as Madison also will be getting a new police chief. Shon Barnes, a former deputy chief in a small North Carolina city, will start in the coming weeks after being selected for the job in December. Barnes is the director of training and professional development for a police oversight group in Chicago.
The public information officer’s job is to make sure the Madison community knows what the police department is doing and why, Grigg said. That includes answering questions from news media, gathering information from officers, posting to social media, and writing up public reports on crimes and other incidents of interest to the community. Grigg said having access to timely information can keep the community safe.
“We’re not here to hide anything,” Grigg said. “We want the community to know as much as possible about what we’re doing.”
The position is a civilian role, so Grigg has to turn in his badge and will no longer be a police officer. Although ending his time as an officer is “bittersweet,” Grigg said, becoming the PIO is a natural fit because it combines his passions for communication, policing and technology.
“I found my — I don’t want to say dream job — but I feel like I’ve found what I’m meant to do at this point in my life,” Grigg said. “Everything kind of led up to this point.”

Tyler Grigg, the Madison Police Department's new public information officer, right, converses with outgoing PIO Joel DeSpain at the department's Central District offices. Grigg says he has "big shoes to fill" after DeSpain's 13 years in the position.
A “Badger for life,” Grigg graduated from UW-Madison in 2005 with degrees in sociology, political science and legal studies, along with a minor in criminal justice. He worked in the information technology field for several years, including starting a computer company in Arizona.
Grigg said he has always had “a knack for technology.” He built computers in college and sold about 100 of them on eBay, which helped pay for some of his student loans. He also has some experience in graphic design and recently got his drone pilot license.
He moved back to Madison in 2008 and became a city police officer in 2009 because he wanted to serve his community. Grigg said throughout his career he “always had an interest in policing.”
During his time on the force, one of his favorite jobs was getting to engage with residents. Grigg joined a team in 2016 that reached out to middle school-age youths to build trust. He wore plain clothes instead of his uniform, talked with them, helped with school work, played games at recess and more.
For the past few years, Grigg has been in the role of crime prevention, Crime Stoppers and social media coordinator — a long title that basically means he used social media and other strategies to help residents learn how to prevent crime.
In one recent example, Grigg made a video explaining how to prevent “porch pirates” from stealing packages during the holiday season that got about 13,000 views on Facebook.
Grigg said he wants to continue doing community outreach and using his technological skills to share information about public safety in creative ways.
“I’ve enjoyed so much what I’ve done over the last four and a half years, five years,” Grigg said. “Transitioning to the PIO role allows me to continue what I’m so passionate about and build off of that.”
Tell me a bit about you. Where are you from, and what is your background?
I’m from the Milwaukee area, specifically West Allis. My parents moved around a lot when I was young. My dad was in the Air Force, so I was actually born in Florida. Moved to Mississippi, moved to Italy. I lived in California. And then my parents settled down in West Allis when I was in third grade.
What do you do for fun outside of your job?
Family is huge. Right now, my wife and I spend a lot of time with our 5-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl. We do a lot of different family functions, whether it’s hiking or sledding, ice skating. Just trying to do all the fun kid stuff right now.
Even though I don’t play as much volleyball as I used to, I still like to get out there and play pickup games, basketball — pre-COVID. Hopefully we’ll get back to that soon. I exercise quite a bit. I do bike riding.
After the summer of protests that happened here in Madison, there’s a fair amount of tension between the Madison Police Department and the community. You’re one of the major ways the public understands and sees what the Police Department is doing. How do you hope to build trust with the community in your role?
I really started building trust hard back in 2016 when I joined that community outreach unit. I was building trust one by one, group by group, but I thought, you know, we really need to show the larger community what we were doing. So social media is one of the avenues I went to.
There was a campaign earlier called “Eight can’t wait.” Departments were being analyzed for their use-of-force policies. ... We looked at all that and we were like, “Wow, we’re actually doing all this. We meet all this criteria.”
We had a mental health unit that was started not too long ago, and now that’s trending nationwide. Or our gang unit. Just letting the community know that these gang officers are out there in the community getting to know youth and trying to circumvent their involvement in these community gangs.
It’s just bringing to light a lot of these programs that we already have and continuing to share that.
The chief and the PIO are two of the most public-facing positions in the Madison Police Department. Do you have a vision for what that will look like going forward since you and Barnes are both new?
Each chief has their own way of communicating internally and externally. And they may rely on the PIO for more or less.
I think the first few months will be kind of telling as far as setting the tone from the chief and the PIO, and what that will look like. I just don’t know enough about the new chief to know what to expect. I’m excited about it. I think he’ll be a good fit for this city.
DeSpain has been the PIO for 13 years now. How do you feel following him?
Big shoes to fill. He’s made quite an impact here in the city and in our department. He, I think, hopefully, has made MPD have a reputation of being open and transparent. And always letting the media know and the public know that if we don’t have information, that we’re working on it. So I want to try to carry that as much as I can.
There’s a lot of experience walking out that door. So I’m a little bit nervous about coming in after him, but I think I’m going to be able to pave my own way.
Police protests: How Madison answered the police killing of George Floyd, in photos
Protester confronts officer, May 30

A participant in one of the recent Madison protests confronts a member of the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Madison protest turns destructive, May 30

Protests that ended up on State Street and the Capitol Square in Madison turned destructive Saturday, May, 30, 2020. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
Police spray protesters, May 30

Police in riot gear used tear gas and pepper spray against protesters May 30 during a destructive night on State Street.
Effects of tear gas, May 30

Sierrena Taylor, 22, is sprayed with milk after getting hit by tear gas that Madison police threw into a crowd of protesters on the 100 block of State Street Saturday.
Medical station, May 30

An improvised medical station near the Veterans Museum on the squarer. Protests that ended up on State Street and the Capitol Square in Madison turned destructive Saturday, May, 30, 2020. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
Standoff with police, May 30

Madison police and Wisconsin State Patrol officers stand off with protesters at the top of State Street May 30. Two police oversight measures being considered by the city of Madison may conflict with some powers of the Police and Fire Commission, the commission's attorney says.
Protesters meet police, May 30

Police and protesters meet at the top of State Street on the first day of the recent protests. Protests that ended up on State Street and the Capitol Square in Madison turned destructive May 30.
Madison protest turns destructive, May 30

Wisconsin State Patrol officers and a Madison police officer in full riot gear fire off tear gas to disperse protesters on the 100 block of State Street May 30. The Madison Public Safety Review Committee on Wednesday committed to studying the police department's funding and policies for responding to protests.
Mayor condemns violence, May 30

Speaking on the steps of the City-County Building Saturday, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said she supports the peaceful protesters but condemned the violence that followed.
Protests May 30, 2020

Police Police and protest meet at the top of State Street on the first day of the recent protest. Protests that ended up on State Street and the Capitol Square in Madison turned destructive Saturday, May, 30, 2020. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
State Street press conference, May 31

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and acting Chief of Police Vic Wahl address Sunday the violence and looting that took place along State Street on Saturday after a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd had ended.
Protests against police, May 31

Protesters clash with police officers on Capitol Square in Madison, Wis., Sunday, May 31, 2020. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Second night of protests in Madison, May 31

Health officials have said mass gatherings, such as this protest on State Street and Capitol Square Sunday, can contribute to the spread of COVID-19.
Cleanup after damage Downtown June 1

Silvestre Mendez is reflected in a remaining pane of glass in the front window of Rising Son's Deli on State Street, where he is employed. The first pane was broken Sunday night. Cleanup continued Monday for State Street businesses that were damaged during the second night of protests in Downtown Madison.
Cleanup after latest damage Downtown, June 1

Badger Liquor, billed as "Madison's happiest corner," was fully boarded up after the weekend protests.
Disrupting traffic, June 1

Protesters circling around other protesters on the closed John Nolan Drive. Several hundred protesters marched through the streets of Madison, Wisconsin and blocked all six lanes of John Nolan Dr Monday, June, 1, 2020 as part of what they say will be a week of action against police brutality and "white supremacy." STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
John Nolen Drive shut down, June 1

Protesters walk from John Nolen Drive to the Madison police station carrying a "Community control over police" sign June 1.
John Nolen Drive shut down, June 1

Protesters dance to the "Cupid Shuffle" while blocking off traffic on John Nolen Drive.
Outside police building, June 1

Hundreds of protesters gather outside of the Madison Police Department building, having marched there after shutting John Nolen Drive down for nearly six hours.
Agitators spark violence, June 2

A lone protester approaches a line of police in full riot gear on State Street early Tuesday morning. Police waited until around 1:10 a.m. — after the looting and window breaking started — before making an appearance. The police were followed by members of the National Guard.
Agitators spark violence, June 2

A group of young women exit Shoo, a shoe store on State Street, around 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Businesses boarded up, June 2

Businesses are boarded up, including Teddywedgers on State Street, after riots broke out on State Street and Capitol Square the previous night, in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, June 2, 2020. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Clean-up of property damage, June 2

Exterior of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum after riots broke out downtown the previous night, in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, June 2, 2020. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Painting murals, June 2

Local artist Mike Lroy spray paints a mural on the boarded up exterior of Tutto Pasta on State Street in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, June 2, 2020. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Braving the rain, June 2

Youth organizers amp up protesters on the Capitol Square in Madison during an entirely peaceful nighttime demonstration June 2. Despite a downpour in the early evening, protesters stuck it out and weathered intermittent rain throughout their roughly six hours at the Capitol.
Lighting candles, June 3

Protesters light candles outside the state Capitol Wednesday at a memorial for black people killed by police.
Speaking to crowd, June 3

Jada Sayles, a college junior and one of the organizers of Wednesday's protest, addressed a crowd of hundreds of people at the top of State Street.
Registering to vote, June 4

Protest organizers Adam Parent, 23, right, and Yeshua Musa, 28, help people register to vote at Thursday's demonstration at the Capitol.
Alter to those lost, June 5

Protests continued for the seventh night Friday, June 5, 2020 at James Madison Park in Madison Wisconsin. They were celebrating Breonna Taylor and other who was killed by police. with an altar near the waters edge. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL.
Happy birthday to Breonna, June 5

Protesters sing "Happy Birthday" to Breonna Taylor on the seventh night of demonstrations against police killings of black people. Taylor was killed in her home by police in Louisville, Ky.
AACC Black Lives Matter Solidarity March, June 7

Marchers make their way up State Street toward the state Capitol during a Black Lives Matter Solidarity March organized by the African American Council of Churches in Madison, Wis., Sunday, June 7, 2020. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AACC Black Lives Matter Solidarity March, June 7

Dr. Marcus Allen, pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and president of the African American Council of Churches, speaks at the beginning of a Black Lives Matter Solidarity March organized by the AACC in Madison, Wis., Sunday, June 7, 2020. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Taking a knee, June 8

A group of about 100 public defenders and private defense attorneys took a knee outside the Dane County Courthouse Monday for nearly 9 minutes to symbolize the amount of time former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on the neck of George Floyd before Floyd died.
Defund police, June 8

Without city permission, protesters painted "DEFUND POLICE" in giant letters on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Monday night. The street leads from the Madison Municipal Building and City-County Building to the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Youths fueling nighttime protests, June 8

Protesters gather in front of the Madison Municipal Building as they listen to youth organizers speak. Madison's youth have been a driving force of the nighttime protests against George Floyd's death.
Closure note, June 16

Sign on the boarded up front door of Fontana Sports. Businesses along State Street in Madison continue to face difficulties with COVID-19, and the violent protest downtown. The businesses were photographed Tuesday, June, 16, 2020. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
Blocking traffic, June 17

Blocking both sides of traffic, protesters march down Park Street in Madison Wednesday evening to stand against racism and police brutality.
Glow in the dark march, June 17

Protesters march down Park Street in Madison Wednesday evening to stand against racism and police brutality.
Juneteenth rally at Olin Park, June 19

(From left) Isaida Zimmerman, left, and Kit Swimm make t-shirts during a Juneteenth rally at Olin Park in Madison, Wis., Friday, June 19, 2020. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Boarded-up State Street, June 22

Pedestrians on State Street walk past closed and boarded-up businesses Monday.
Confronting driver, June 23

A protester uses a loudspeaker Tuesday to confront a woman sitting in her car as a group blocks traffic along Blair Street.
Madison protesters, June 23

Protesters shut down the intersection of East Washington Avenue and Blair Street on Tuesday. A few protesters and one motorist were injured during clashes.
Protesters block intersection, June 23

A few hundred protesters block traffic at an intersection an intersection near Capitol Square in Madison, Wis. Tuesday night. A few organizers stand on top of a tow truck. Protesters tore down statues of the state's "Forward" statue, and one of Union Civil War Col. Hans Christian Heg, assaulted a state senator and set a small fire in a city building Downtown on Tuesday night after the arrest of a Black activist earlier in the day. EMILY HAMER, STATE JOURNAL
Heg statue toppled, June 23

Two protesters carry a leg from a statue of Hans Christian Heg, a Union Civil War colonel who fought for the end of slavery, during demonstrations Tuesday night.
Forward statue topped, June 23

Wisconsin's "Forward" statue lies in the street on Capitol Square after it was pulled down by protesters on June 23.
Empty statue pedestal, June 24

An empty pedestal where the statue of famed abolitionist Col. Hans Christian Heg stood. Scenes from around the State Capitol Wednesday, June, 24, 2020 the morning after protesters tore down statues of Forward and a Union Civil War colonel. Protesters also assaulted a state senator and damaged the Capitol Tuesday night after the arrest of a Black activist earlier in the day. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
Protecting the Capitol, June 24

Troy Richardson, left, and Corey Rockweiler with Daniels Construction board up street-level windows Wednesday near the West Washington entrance to the state Capitol after protesters caused damage the night before.
Police supporters get opposition, July 2

Supporters of the Madison Police Department face opposition Thursday from Black Lives Matter supporters objecting to their efforts to place signs over protest markings on the exterior of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. During several contentious exchanges, a group in favor of defunding police departments argued with those who say their message is, "Without peace there can be no justice."
BLM demonstration, July 4

Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement form a circle around Black participants as part of an exercise during a demonstration on E. Washington Ave. in Madison, Wis. Saturday, July 4, 2020. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL