Statement from Brian Barkow

Milwaukee (May 15, 2022) – Brian Barkow, law enforcement executive and candidate for Milwaukee County Sheriff, issued the following statement today:

“Yesterday, ten innocent people were killed in a despicable act of racial terrorism in Buffalo, New York. Here in Milwaukee County, we stand with the people of Buffalo and we pray for the families who today are mourning the loss of loved ones. We condemn the vile ideology of racism and violence that led to this horror. White supremacy and related forms of domestic violent extremism have no place in a democratic society and in a safe and just community.

“White supremacist violence is a threat across our country. While yesterday’s act of terrorism took place in Buffalo, tomorrow’s could happen anywhere in America, including our own community. Those of us in law enforcement must use every tool at our disposal to prevent such an outcome. It is essential that we reach out to community stakeholders on the front lines of the fight against hateful extremism and build partnerships predicated on trust and responsiveness. We must also use intelligence-led policing to do our utmost to identify prospective threats and prevent them from escalating to the level of violence. And we must work with experts in online radicalization to counter the threat posed by web forums and chat rooms that foster racial violence and other forms of deadly extremism.”

Brian Barkow for Sheriff

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.