Edward A. Flynn is the police chief of the Milwaukee Police Department.
Official City Biography
Edward A. Flynn was appointed police chief in the Milwaukee Police Department in January 2008. In January 2012, he was appointed to a second term. He commands an agency of 2,000 sworn officers and 700 civilians serving a city of over 600,000 residents.
He was police commissioner in Springfield, Massachusetts from 2006 to 2008. As the police chief executive he was responsible for 470 officers and 100 civilians serving a city of 155,000 residents.
Flynn served as Secretary of Public Safety under Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney from January 2003 until taking command in Springfield. He was responsible for a secretariat employing 10,000 that included the Massachusetts State Police, the Department of Correction, the National Guard, the Department of Fire Services, the Parole Board, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. He also served as the chief adviser to the Governor on homeland security.
Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Public Safety, he served for five years as the Chief of Police in Arlington, Virginia. He commanded a 360-officer department serving 190,000 residents. In this capacity he was instrumental in the recovery effort at the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
His began his career in the Jersey City Police Department, where he was promoted through the ranks of officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and inspector. He served as the Chief of Police in Braintree and subsequently Chelsea, Massachusetts.
Flynn is a member of the Board of Directors of the Police Executive Research Forum, serves on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, is on the Board of Directors for the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and serves on the Fight Crime Invest in Kids executive board. He is a past recipient of the prestigious Gary Hayes Memorial Award for Police Leadership from PERF. He is currently serving on scientific review panels on technology for the National Institute of Justice.
He holds a B.A. in history from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, a Masters degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and completed all course work in the Ph.D. program in criminal justice from the City University in New York. Chief Flynn is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the National Executive Institute and was a National Institute of Justice Pickett Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Content referencing Edward A. Flynn - Page 2
Mayor Tom Barrett issued the following statement regarding the Derek Williams Inquest:
“I want to thank Special Prosecutor John Franke for his professionalism while presenting the case and I want to thank the jury panel for their service.”
Feb 21st, 2013 by Tom BarrettMilwaukee Reports Homicide Total for 2012
Milwaukee reported 92 homicides in 2012 compared to 87 in 2011, a 6% increase.
Jan 18th, 2013 by Press ReleaseFPC’s change of heart in Schoen case sets dangerous precedent
Today’s reversal by the Fire and Police Commission on the reinstatement of Officer Richard Schoen should be very troubling to Milwaukee residents.
Dec 11th, 2012 by State Rep. Bob DonovanStatement of Alderman Joe Davis, Sr.
Statement of Alderman Joe Davis, Sr.
Dec 10th, 2012 by Joe Davis, Sr.Reinstatement of Officer Schoen sets dangerous precedent
I am deeply troubled by the Fire and Police Commission’s inexplicable decision Monday to reinstate the employment of Police Officer Richard Schoen, who was fired by Chief Edward Flynn following an excessive force case.
Dec 4th, 2012 by Willie HinesFire & Police Commission erred in reinstating Officer Schoen
I may not agree with Chief Flynn on everything, but I believe he was right when he chose to fire Police Officer Richard Schoen for excessive force.
Dec 4th, 2012 by Ald. Milele CoggsAlderman Donovan backs MPD, Chief Flynn on Williams case
While it appears to now be open season on the Milwaukee Police Department and its leader, I, for one, am standing squarely behind the dedicated and hard working men and women of the MPD and Chief Flynn with regard to the Derek Williams case.
Oct 11th, 2012 by State Rep. Bob DonovanCitizens still waiting for answers about illegal strip searches
Other Council members and I have recently been directing our efforts toward learning more about the tragic death in police custody of Derek Williams, and seeking justice for him.
Oct 1st, 2012 by Ald. Milele CoggsAlderwoman Coggs seeks word on status of strip search/cavity search investigations
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs sent letters today to Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn and Fire and Police Commission Executive Director Mike Tobin (both attached) requesting status updates on the investigations into alleged illegal strip searches and body cavity searches by MPD personnel.
Aug 22nd, 2012 by Ald. Milele CoggsWe need a real public safety strategy, not another street roll call
We need to fill the MPD officer vacancies and create a real public safety strategy for Milwaukee.
Aug 14th, 2012 by State Rep. Bob DonovanChief Flynn should provide answers in public forum
Joint Statement from Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, and Alderman José G. Pérez
Jul 13th, 2012 by Milwaukee Common CouncilStatement on hearing regarding MPD crime statistics
To his credit, Chief Flynn put together an impressive presentation yesterday. The police department apparently reviewed more than 34,000 crime reports.
Jun 22nd, 2012 by State Rep. Bob DonovanWatching the Watchdog – Joint Statement from Members of the Common Council
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s recent investigations into the police department have misled the public about important facts relevant to the safety of our community.
Jun 22nd, 2012 by Milwaukee Common Council














