I stand with the good men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department

I am compelled to respond to comments that are being made publicly regarding the Milwaukee Police Department.

As a retired MPD Captain who spent nearly 28 years as a proud member of the Police Department, I can tell you that anyone who attempts to paint the entire force with a singular, negative brush is absolutely off-base and not in touch with reality. The reality is that the vast majority of police officers are hard working, honest, ethical, and fair in carrying out their sworn duties.

I am not pleased with the comments that have been made recently by some regarding the Police Department. I believe it is counterproductive to make judgments and disparaging comments prior to final resolution of matters in a court of law. No officer has been found guilty of any crime, and we must assume innocence until someone is found guilty in court.

The recent news of four officers (four out of the approximately 2,000 sworn MPD personnel) being charged in connection with alleged illegal strip searches is very troubling, but it is not indicative of the vast majority of our men and women who wear the MPD shield. The officers who properly serve and put their lives on the line for us on a daily basis deserve our support and our respect. I feel confident that in fact most Milwaukee residents do support the police department and our officers, despite the heavy critical media coverage we’ve seen recently.

Let us continue to support our honest and hard-working police officers. We all benefit when elected leaders, the community, and the police are working together.

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.

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