The vote came as dawn broke following Tuesday’s meeting. Dozens of people still in the council chamber shouted “shame” at the alderpeople who backed the termination. Six voted against it: Ellen Zhang, Carmella Glenn, Barbara Harrington-McKinney, Julia Matthews, Davy Mayer and Devine Nzegwu.

The resolution, introduced Oct. 6 by Ald. Will Ochowicz, reverses the council’s June 9 extension of Glass’ appointment. Under that extension, she would have served through March 2027 or until a permanent monitor was hired. The resolution puts the monitor’s office under the supervision of Karen Kapusta-Pofahl, the Common Council’s chief of staff, and calls for help from the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement in finding a permanent monitor.

Most of the 177 people registered to speak in favor of or against the resolution opposed it: 318 registered against and three took no position. City staff also received 109 pages of written comments. Speakers opposing the termination said it threatened civilian oversight and could undermine the monitor’s independence. Some supporters argued that the city needed to address Glass’ performance and the process for hiring a permanent replacement.

Elsa Ruiz, whose son Corey was fatally shot by a Madison police officer nearly three months ago, urged council members to keep Glass in the role. “She has been doing a superb job in her position,” Ruiz said, adding that Glass was “someone I need desperately in my corner.”

The termination vote followed a performance review released Monday by the Police Civilian Oversight Board, which said Glass performed at a high level across every category it assessed. The board cited strengths in leadership, communication, community engagement and commitment to independent oversight, while also identifying areas for continued work, including rebuilding relationships with stakeholders and improving data-driven oversight and public communication. The review was not required by law for an interim monitor.

Ald. Regina Vidaver, a co-sponsor of the termination resolution, had written that Glass failed to follow work rules, including requirements related to contractor paperwork, telework and family leave, and questioned her judgment. Ochowicz said the relationship among the council, the oversight board and the public had lost trust, and that he believed a change was needed.

The debate also centered on the 2020 ordinance that established the monitor’s office. It says the monitor reports directly to the Police Civilian Oversight Board and acts as directed by that board. It also prohibits city officials or employees from using their positions to unduly influence or undermine the monitor’s independence. Former alders Brenda Konkel and Marsha Rummel urged the council to honor that structure and questioned whether it had authority to end the appointment.

Glass told council members that disputes over workplace policies were not about rejecting rules, but about how those rules are applied to an office meant to operate independently. “There is currently no pathway that does not lead back to the mayor or to the Common Council,” she said.

Hours before the meeting, Glass announced that her office had appointed attorney Damon Etawlyah to represent Sharon Irwin before the Police and Fire Commission in the case involving Irwin’s grandson, Tony Robinson. The appointment was the first time the monitor’s office had assigned an attorney to represent a complainant. Robinson was killed by a Madison police officer in 2015; the officer was not criminally charged, and the city later settled a civil rights lawsuit brought by Robinson’s family for $3.35 million.

The council will reconvene Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. to address the remaining items on its agenda.