As Patterson spoke, a protester interrupted the news conference, approached the podium, and eventually took control of the microphone. After the interruption ended, Chief Patterson resumed the briefing and spent approximately 40 minutes answering questions from reporters. |RELATED: Video: Protester takes microphone from Madison PD chief during press conference on fatal OISLaw enforcement executives, public information officers and communications professionals began debating the chief’s response. Rather than judging one chief’s choices, the Madison briefing offers an opportunity to examine the communication challenges every agency may eventually face. Once the protester reached the podium, Chief Patterson faced competing priorities.