The first-place award recognizes managing editor Peter Cameron’s investigative reporting on wandering officers, those fired or forced out from previous jobs in law enforcement only to be rehired elsewhere.

By Annie Pulley, THE BADGER PROJECT

The Badger Project once again took home gold in the Milwaukee Press Club 2024 Excellence in Journalism awards for managing editor Peter Cameron’s reporting on wandering officers in Wisconsin. 

The press club nominated Cameron in April, and he won first place in the online division category of Best Public Service Story or Series at the awards ceremony May 9 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. 

The award recognizes Cameron’s ongoing reporting on wandering officers in the state — police who were fired or forced out of previous jobs in Wisconsin law enforcement.

Launched by Cameron in 2018, The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin that investigates government, law enforcement and related matters. Its stories run in newspapers and news organizations across the state.

The nonprofit has been nominated four times by the Milwaukee Press Club. It also won first-place prizes in 2022 and 2023 for investigative reporting on law enforcement. Last year, the nonprofit took home the bronze award for Best Investigative Story or Series for Cameron’s work on Oath Keepers in Wisconsin. 

Founded in 1885, the Milwaukee Press Club is the oldest continuously operating press club in North America. 

You can see the full list of 2024 finalists here.

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.