Rahm Emanuel and Chicago get it—How about Milwaukee?
Chicago to hire hundreds of new officers to address deadly violence
I’m as disheartened as anyone to hear the news from the police chief yesterday that 24 murders were reported last month in Milwaukee, which makes August the city’s most deadly month on record in 25 years. The Journal Sentinel noted that the last time this many homicides were tallied was the month when police brought Jeffrey Dahmer in off the streets. But what’s truly horrifying is that, of the 30 homicides from July of 1991, 12 of them were attributed to Dahmer—and they were only learned of during that month, not committed!
So really, were it not for this clerical anomaly in counting murders, August of 2016 could have gone into the books as the deadliest month of crime in Milwaukee’s history.
Mind you, the problem with violence is more out of control here in Milwaukee, where the homicide rate is 4.0 victims per 100,000 residents, than it is in Chicago, where that rate is only 3.3 victims per 100,000 residents.
If that isn’t a call for us to boost our own police staffing here in Milwaukee, I don’t know what is. It’s our turn to step up and prioritize that safety of our people.
Mayor Barrett, what in the world are you waiting for?
(Please see http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/emanuel-to-hire-hundreds-of-police-officers-council-ally-says/ for more information about the Chicago Police hiring proposal)
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.
Oh, really?
Did Bathroom Bob read the entire story including the part about a series of tax increases to pay for things like pension funds? It goes on to say that it’s highly like that a tax increase will pay for the hundreds of new officers. Is he suggesting that we do the same here in Milwaukee? I can’t imagine Bob cares much about details if it gets in the way of his press release.
I have no issue with a petition to add to the city budget. What I need to know are the simple things that most businesses would ask. What will these new personnel do that we are not doing now? Precisely, please. Will they be high-paying replacements for administrative or clerical work? Will there be lay-offs to make space for more uniforms?
And if throwing money at a problem is no longer a “problem” can we “throw” some money at our school system, please!
The only magic in “more cops” is the magic it does to crop-dust the electorate into submission.
Why not spend more money on efforts to actually REDUCE violations by addressing its causes?. Police Chief Flynn himself has said the police cannot be expected to solve all the problems contributing to high crime. Milwaukee already has a very well-staffed police staff compared with comparable cities.
Adding more police officers is NOT THE SOLUTION!! There is a path among the many paths such as more police, longer sentences etc but most unfortunately few are willing to spend the time necessary figuring out which path to take. It seems most are willing to assume that others know the path or that their efforts to figuring out the path will be of no value so why try. How is it that other large US cities have significantly fewer murders than Milwaukee and Chicago. While I ask that question I do not expect that the path will be found there. Pieces of the path might be found but not the path itself. The path starts with understanding violent behavior as Dr Lonnie Athens describes it. Abuse/trauma is the foundation, the starting point, to understanding violent behavior. NOT resolving that abuse/trauma is what leads to ANGER and then RAGE and we all know where that leads. Now I will see anyone is willing to scratch their head and call me for the rest of the story. Peace Tom Spellman 414 403 1341