This afternoon the City of Milwaukee just got less safe
Statement from Alderman Bob Donovan November 8, 2019
Today the Common Council failed to restore the Mayor’s budget cut that will reduce the Milwaukee Police Department by 60 police officers. This is bad news for the entire city going into 2020.
In fact, my warning stands: If you live in an area of the city already hit too frequently by crime and disorder, prepare yourself because it’s only going to get worse. And if you live in an area that’s just been a little challenged by criminal activities, I can tell you – sadly – that it’s only going to get worse.
Over the past 10 years we’ve reduced the Milwaukee Police Department by a few hundred cops. This means going into this budget we were already behind the eight ball – and by a wide margin.
They call the police.
My fear is that we are falling deeper and deeper into a hole when it comes to adequate police staffing and coverage. We also have a severe shortage of detectives, and that means fewer crimes are being solved across the city.
We must start seeing police officers for what they bring to our neighborhoods and to our city. They are not a luxury item and they ARE a resource for safety and prosperity.
They are a crucial necessity and we better start treating them that way.
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.
More about the 2020 Milwaukee Budget
- City Hall: Council Overrides Every Barrett Veto - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 26th, 2019
- City Hall: Barrett Issues 8 Budget Vetoes - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 19th, 2019
- This afternoon the City of Milwaukee just got less safe - State Rep. Bob Donovan - Nov 8th, 2019
- City Hall: Council Cuts Police, Adopts $1.6 Billion Budget - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 8th, 2019
- City Hall: Proposal Uses Lead Abatement Funds for Marketing - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 7th, 2019
- Transportation: Street Safety Funding Passes Committee - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 6th, 2019
- Omnibus budget amendment supports birthing moms pilot, violence interrupters, participatory budget initiative and more - Ald. Milele Coggs - Nov 1st, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Proposal Would Fund Emergency Housing - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 31st, 2019
- City Hall: Proposal Gives Residents a Basic Income - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 31st, 2019
- City Hall: Community Outpouring Over City Budget - Isiah Holmes - Oct 14th, 2019
Read more about 2020 Milwaukee Budget here
Recent Press Releases by State Rep. Bob Donovan
Milwaukee ranks 30th for the most number of police officers per resident for all U.S. cities with over 50,000 residents. Increasing the number of police officers will not reduce crime in Milwaukee. This is not a shortage of overall police staffing, it is an overage. With one of the highest rates of police officers in the country, MIlwaukee still has crime rates that are too high. The police department is focused on dealing with the aftermath of crime. That focus will not reduce crime.
Other options are required to reduce the crime and improve the safety of Milwaukee residents. It might be time to take some of the money currently spent to support the police department and use it to develop and expand other areas (secure housing / education / jobs / arts / community engagement). The “community” must engage with and educate all residents. The “community” must provide job training, job and avocational opportunities, so people can see that there are other options.
Later I will probably hate myself for posting this but……
How many politicians are mentally ill? It seems like an epidemic these days, probably because of nonstop coverage of Trump in the dumbed down corporate media, and our local cast of political all stars like BossVos, Walker, RonJohn, Senselessbrenner, F Scott Fitzgerald, and on and on……but after reading this little paranoid press release, BobDon strikes me as another odd bird.
^Concur