Supervisor Weishan Criticizes County Executive Chris Abele Over Sheriff’s Department Defunding

Milwaukee County Supervisor John F. Weishan, Jr., today responded to Wednesday’s highway shootout on Interstate 43 by condemning County Executive Chris Abele’s consistent attacks on the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department.

“My adamant requests for more deputy sheriffs have been belittled by County Executive Abele,” Weishan said. “This serious public safety incident shines a light on the dire need for those deputies, and it puts on display the great work that the Sheriff’s Department does on a daily basis. These are people putting their lives on the line, and in return they are being overworked and underappreciated.”

The County Executive’s 2016 Recommended Budget had almost a $10 million deficit in the Sheriff’s Department. The County Board was able to reallocate $4 million to decrease the deficit in the final 2016 budget.

“County Executive Abele said in a memo to the County Board that he has ‘always been committed to maintain public safety in Milwaukee.’ It is interesting that the County Executive can unearth hundreds of thousands of dollars for his own private security while committing the County to $80 million for a new Bucks arena, but when it comes to the safety of our community and our deputy sheriffs, he can’t seem to locate any additional funds.

“Without our deputy sheriffs on the highway yesterday, the shooting incidents could have been much worse. I am thankful for the work they do, and for their commitment to public safety.”

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.