Statement on Jeffrey Norman as MPD acting chief

As the 15th District Alderman, I have very close contact with the 3rd Police District, as it covers almost every square mile of the district I represent. I have frequent contacts with the commander and other personnel from District Three, on topics ranging from specific incidents to crime trends and policing philosophy.

For the past three years I worked very closely with Acting Police Chief Jeffrey Norman as he served as the commander of District Three (prior to his promotion to assistant chief). As an exemplary member of the MPD command staff, Acting Chief Norman has worked in all three MPD bureaus: Administration, Criminal Investigation Bureau and Patrol. He has literally worked from the ground up within MPD, gradually earning promotions to a point where he commanded more than 200 personnel at District Three and nearly 500 personnel as the executive commander in charge of the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Acting Chief Norman has been a leader within MPD and has served with integrity, and he has earned my gratitude for his service and commitment to our Milwaukee community. I believe we have improved public safety in the district by way of his partnership with the community, with businesses, and with me.

Under Acting Chief Norman’s leadership as commander at District Three, we have been successful in holding negligent landlords and businesses accountable, abating illegal activities and irresponsibility on the part of businesses and property owners. He has also been especially successful in revocations of licenses of bad bar operators.

These are just some examples of what the community needed – and what he delivered – but in my view his most significant impact has been the quick response to the community and the development of successful community-police relations across the district.

In Acting Chief Norman I see the very best in the Milwaukee Police Department, and I see leadership and excellence. He also embraces accountability and constant communication, both needed today more than ever.

I fully support Acting Chief Norman and I want to see the Fire and Police Commission suspend its current police chief search process to allow him time to show everyone if he can exhibit the leadership and excellence as chief that he’s shown to me and others over the past several years as a commander and assistant chief.

I firmly believe he will rise to the challenge!

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.