MPD launches a new initiative – 2024 Winter Guardian

MILWAUKEE, WI – The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is pleased to announce the launch of the first ever Operation Winter Guardian initiative. The objective of Operation Winter Guardian is to rapidly deploy extra uniformed personnel to saturate areas where a carjacking incident has just occurred in order to locate and arrest the offenders and prevent further incidents. Winter Guardian also prioritizes arresting wanted carjacking offenders, locating and recovering carjacked vehicles. Winter Guardian incorporates positive community interaction and constant feedback with enforcement.

In the summer of 2022, under Chief Norman’s leadership and guidance, MPD created a targeted response in areas that were identified as having the most gunshots fired (through gunshot detection technology). The response was titled Summer Guardian and deployed additional officers in these high frequency neighborhoods. To ensure the constitutionality of all stops, MPD required those officers assigned to this deployment to attend a constitutional policing refresher course. In addition, MPD organized community feedback sessions to ensure that the community was satisfied with the MPD presence, as well as receive information on any concerns, including constitutional concerns, the community might have. Feedback from the community was positive throughout the deployment. MPD worked with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to analyze the Summer Guardian data and received recommendations for improving Summer Guardian. These recommendations were implemented for Summer Guardian 2.0 that occurred in 2023, and Summer Guardian 3.0, that occurred May – September of 2024. Summer Guardian is an example of a data-driven approach to crime with community input and regular feedback to reduce the occurrence of violence in neighborhoods and mitigate violent crime when it occurs.

Summer Guardian Initiatives have been largely successful. The 2024 Summer Guardian resulted in 47 arrests, the recovery of 26 illegal firearms, and a significant amount of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamines. In addition, the officers assigned positively engaged with the community, and conducted 366 park and walks where they interacted with neighbors, discussed their concerns, and built positive relationships.

Building on the success of Summer Guardian, MPD recognized that the Guardian model could be mirrored to address carjacking in our community and thus is launching Winter Guardian that will begin this Sunday, December 22, 2024 through January of 2025. MPD officers are working to keep the community safe every day, including over the holiday season.

MPD asks the public to play a role in Winter Guardian. Carjackings are crimes of opportunity. Even when it is cold, do not keep your car running unattended. Always lock your doors. If you are parked, be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

Together, we are better! For more information about Summer Guardian, please visit: https://mkepdpio.org/home/operation-summer-guardian

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.