Citizens still not protected by the system
Corrected/revised statement from Alderman Bob Donovan June 16, 2016
My earlier statement today was based on an error that appeared in a local news report about the case of 17-year-old Avan Kittler, who went on a four-day violent crime spree that included car-jackings and shootings. The report erroneously stated that Kittler posted just $1,000 and was released after a judge set his cash bail at $10,000.
I have learned that Kittler was released after posting the $10,000 bail.
I am still dumbfounded that we are to trust someone under 18, someone charged with seven violent felonies, to abide by electronic monitoring. The judge or commissioner in this case should explain to Milwaukee citizens just how, exactly, we should be so sure that this individual will not continue his crime spree while on ‘monitoring.’
Again, my mistrust is heightened by recent testimony before the Public Safety Committee that clearly discredits the County’s handling of electronic monitoring. Again, we have been told that it is not at all uncommon for police to arrest individuals on ‘electronic monitoring’ while those individuals are in the process of committing other crimes.
And again, the Council is holding special meetings of the Public Safety Committee to get the key crime and public safety issues affecting Milwaukee on the table for open discussion. I have invited the County’s chief judge and other judges to our June 27 special meeting, and I welcome and look forward to their testimony about our current state of affairs.
I must reiterate that we need to keep an open mind while looking at our escalating public safety challenges. But I simply can’t ignore the increasing number of calls from citizens who are concerned and worried that we are losing the public safety battle.
If we can’t come up with viable solutions to our challenges, then trust in government will be further jeopardized.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Recent Press Releases by State Rep. Bob Donovan
