Milwaukee Police Department

Activists Reflect on a Year of Protest

Police reform advocates discuss victories and challenges that remain.

The time is now to make Jeffrey Norman permanent chief

Statement of Common Council President Cavalier Johnson June 3, 2021

With state of emergency winding down, enforcement of expired vehicle registrations must ramp up

Joint statement from Common Council President Cavalier Johnson and Alderman Michael J. Murphy

MPD Officer Involved Shooting

One Year After George Floyd’s Death

Milwaukeeans reflect on how things have changed — or haven’t.

Council To Consider Closing VIP Lounge

Milwaukee Police Department backing bar's closure.

Council Approves Federal Drug Trafficking Grants

Activist asks what success fighting War on Drugs looks like? MPD lists arrests, seizures.

Check in on your neighbors to help keep our community safe

Statement of Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic May 25, 2021

New Policies Incentivize City Residency for Milwaukee Police, Firefighters

Fire & Police Commission pushing for public safety departments that reflect the city they protect and serve.

African American Roundtable Pushes For Change

Founded in 2012, advocates for voter education, $15 minimum wage, defunding police.

Coins Celebrate Policing of Kenosha Protests

Kenosha Sheriff sends commemorative coins to other police agencies, officials who helped.

Sickle Cell Excuses Killings By Police?

3 of 47 such deaths nationally were in Milwaukee, but county medical examiner defends his decisions.

City Committee Approves Its Part of BRT Project

Agreement will have the city getting paid to plow snow in exchange for giving up traffic lanes.

Tosa Police Had Many ‘High Value Targets’

Including Mayor Dennis McBride, Rep. David Bowen, protest leaders, attorneys.

Bay View Speedway Must Close Early After Robbery String

Police visited gas station 14 times between January 1st and February 11th.

Judge Rules Acevedo Video Can Be Released

Footage shows choking, death of Joel Acevedo. Officer Michael Mattioli charged with reckless homicide.

Club Midtown isn’t a thing

Statement of Common Council President Cavalier Johnson May 5, 2021

Council Closes Junior’s Cocktail Lounge

After 22 police calls, $26,500 in COVID-19 fines and many neighbor complaints, council votes to shut down bar.

Tosa Police Chief Testifies About Mensah

In John Doe hearing Weber defends former officer's killing of Jay Anderson, Jr.

Police Haven’t Ended Stop and Frisks

ACLU report finds Milwaukee police out of compliance with 2018 legal settlement.

Body Cameras Key To Charges Against Police

Wisconsin families who've lost loved ones hope body camera footage can lead to justice.

City Must Apologize to Sterling Brown

Council approves settlement, which includes apology and changes in how police are trained.

MPD Open Records Section Reopens to the Public

Milwaukee Police Department Continues Discriminatory Stop-And-Frisks Despite 2018 Settlement of Lawsuit

Supervisor Taylor to Introduce Resolution Funding Dontre Hamilton Memorial Bench

Milwaukee Faces Ambulance Shortage

Shortage of personnel and low reimbursement rate pushing private providers to quit city's 911 system.

Pension Costs Will Cause Huge Worker Layoffs

One-sixth of city workforce projected for cuts by 2026, with added cuts in future years.

Sterling Brown settlement requires that MPD adopt weapon drawn reporting

Statement of Alderman Khalif J. Rainey April 27, 2021

Multigenerational Homes Hit Harder By COVID-19

13% of state residents, often families of color, face higher risks of infection and death.

Sterling Brown Settlement Approved

City will issue apology and adopt slew of police policy changes.

Remembering Bill Durkin

He helped create Urban Stables, other philanthropic projects and was an anti-war activist, member of Chicago 15.

Curfew Tickets During Protests Look Biased

Black residents hit by 64% of curfew violations during Milwaukee’s Spring 2020 protests.

End to senseless violence in Milwaukee must come soon

Joint statement of Alderman Khalif J. Rainey and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II

DPW To Test Smart Garbage Truck Technology

Could city fleet be used for reporting potholes and illegal dumping? Maybe.

Protesters Rally After Chauvin Verdict

Local activists, members of The People's Revolution celebrate, call for further efforts to achieve justice.

Program Has New Approach to Prostitution

Milwaukee police offer help rather than arresting prostitutes.

Statement from Milwaukee Police Department on Derek Chauvin Verdict

Jury Finds Officer Derek Chauvin Guilty

Minneapolis cop guilty on all charges, including second degree murder of George Floyd.

MPS Is Just As Bad as Police Department

Both are racist systems and both need wholesale reform.

County Jail Staff Wore White Supremacist Symbols

Staff wearing "Punisher" symbol and Spartan helmet, both used by far-right groups.

First Streetcar Smart Kiosks Installed

Each with interactive displays mixing ads, streetcar arrival data and PSA's.

Inside the Milwaukee Police Fusion Center

Protesters have wondered what center is up to. The history and details of little-known unit.

New Police Grant Approved With Little Scrutiny

Latest grant got two minutes of discussion, not months of meetings.

Tosa Police Chief Will Testify in New Mensah Case

Jay Anderson's family asks judge to independently file charges.

8 Ways Police Mishandled Protests

From Los Angeles to New York, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, police made similar mistakes.

Council Wants Ann Wilson Off Fire & Police Commission

9-6 vote against her reappointment. But they lack the authority to remove her.

Council passes legislation creating the MPD Diversion Task Force

Statement of Alderwoman Chantia Lewis March 23, 2021

Proposal Ends Fines for Pot Possession

No fines for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for a first-time offense.

Milwaukee Police Rescue Domestic Violence Hostage

Milwaukee Police Helped Patrol Tosa Protests?

MPD denies it, but evidence suggests its police were covertly involved.

How Milwaukee Police Monitor Cell Phones

Department spent $498,000 in 2019 on sophisticated equipment.

Troubled Tavern Could Become Veteran’s Housing

Southside-focused real estate firm buying S. 6th St. building.

Council Closes Gene’s Supper Club

Multiple shootings in past year drive police, neighbors and alderman to seek bar's closure.

GOP Bill Cuts Funding for Cities that ‘Defund Police’

Any reduction in law enforcement spending would be matched by a reduction in state funding.

Council Committee Rejects MPD Request To Be Featured on Crime Show

MPD sees it as public relations improvement. Alderman sees it as "trauma porn."

Was Jay Anderson’s Killing Properly Investigated?

New probe raises questions about his shooting by former Tosa cop Joseph Mensah.

Another Council Committee Opposes Wilson

Majority of council opposes Ann Wilson's reappointment to Fire & Police Commission.

Help Milwaukee Police catch hit-and-run suspect in fatal incident

Statement of Alderman Cavalier Johnson March 8, 2021

Suspects Criminally Charged in Connection to a Cold Case Homicide

MPD Implements a Traffic Safety Unit to Combat Reckless Driving

ACLU Calls for National Search for Tosa Police Chief

Police department 'must repair its relationship with many community members.’

38 Citations Issued for COVID-19 Violations

VIP Lounge received $11,000 of $28,000 in fines issued by the city.

Evers’ Budget Proposal Would Allow Milwaukee Sales Tax

City and county officials have been pursuing option for over a year.

A Primer on City School Board Races

Who is running in February primary and why the Milwaukee school board matters.

Statement on south side fire, importance of smoke alarms

Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa February 5, 2021

Milwaukee A Leader in CCTV Snooping

City has 8 cameras per 1,000 people, more than 28 of 39 large cities studied.

New 911 Call Center Aims For Speed

City system promises faster pickups, fewer dropped calls, ability to dispatch based on officer location.

Apartment fire devastates 8th District families

Statement of Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa January 29, 2021

Fire Department HQ Being Renamed For Wisconsin’s First Black Architect

Alonzo Robinson was a trailblazing architect

2-year-old shooting a sobering reminder of the importance of gun safety

Statement of Common Council President Cavalier Johnson January 25, 2021

Third Ward Nightclub Surrenders License Before Revocation Hearing

SITE closes following shooting.

Suspect criminally charged in connection to a fatal crash that killed a beloved Dean from Marquette University

What Can City Do About Pension Crisis?

Milwaukee must find at least $90 million annually starting in 2023. All options are on the table.

Another Step in a 1,000-mile Journey

Joint statement from members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderman Mark Borkowski and Alderman José G. Pérez

Common Council Approves COPS Hiring Grant

Joint Statement on Acceptance of Federal COPS Grant

From members of the Milwaukee Common Council: Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Cavalier Johnson and Alderman Mark A. Borkowski

Council Confirms Avalos, Adds Tie-Breaking Vote to Fire & Police Commission

But a potential issue awaits with looming rejection of Ann Wilson's reappointment.

Council Okays Federal COPS Grant, But…

Police department agrees to certain conditions for grant intended to reform operations.

Milwaukee Leaders Commit To Addressing Homicide Pandemic

"There is a tremendous amount of work to be done, and we will do it together," said Mayor Tom Barrett.

Special Licenses Committee meeting to include revocation hearing for Third Ward nightclub

Project Helps Sex Trafficking Victims

Using a housing first model, program provides stability to mend and move forward.

Tosa Mayor Named As ‘Target’ By Police

Such action will 'drive a wedge" between police and people they serve, McBride warns.

Council Keeps Delaying on Sterling Brown Settlement

Alderman says deal isn't ready to be approved.

City Shows Off Wisconsin Center Vaccination Hub

Public could be vaccinated there in future weeks. Effort starting with frontline workers.

Occupied MPD squad struck by gunfire

Milwaukee Seeks Data for Vision Zero Push

Consultant would identify dangerous interactions, develop predictive model.

Coggs Continues to Lead Push for Enhanced Trauma-Informed Care

Alderwoman pushes for standardization in referrals with hopes of preventing future crime.

Resources for Families Coping with Violence

These resources offer support and engagement for youth and counseling for trauma.

Committee Rejects Ann Wilson’s FPC Reappointment

But even if council affirms rejection, Wilson could continue to serve.

Health Department Will Start Issuing Citations From Complaints

New citations being drafted from New Years holiday. The department still isn't doing night inspections.

New City Engineer Must Tackle Reckless Driving

Committee approves Kruschke to job. And alders want him to focus on safety.

Mentorship Program Helps Boys Without Fathers

Youth are partnered with mentors, learn first aid and lifesaving skills.