Thoughts on Milwaukee’s murder rate

As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the City of Milwaukee had 71 homicides in 2008, the fewest amount of homicides in Milwaukee since 1985. The 71 homicides represents a 32.4% reduction from 2007, when 105 people were killed in Milwaukee.

Officials were quick to attribute the lower homicide number in part to improved cooperation among law enforcement agencies and policing efforts focused on Milwaukee’s most violent neighborhoods, but Elliot over at From Where I Sit thinks it’s no coincidence that Milwaukee’s murder rate declined in 2008, which also happened to be the first year the Milwaukee Police Department was run by a white male in about 20-years.

Some in the comment thread over at From Where I Sit attributed the reduced murder rate to the cold weather we had the first two and a half months of the year and the last month and a half of the year, and while there’s no denying crime rates go up as the weather gets warmer, I’m inclined to believe the the reduced murder rate is a product of more cops on the streets and a more proactive approach to policing in Milwaukee in 2008, as opposed to the reactive type of policing that seemed to be in vogue under the previous police chiefs.

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7 thoughts on “Thoughts on Milwaukee’s murder rate

  1. JUST BECAUSE A THE SHERRIFF OF MILWAUKEE IS WHITE DOESNT MEAN THAT’S THE MOST RACIST SHIT I HEARD WHOEVER WROTE THIS MUST BE A STUPID RACIST FUCK WHO THINKS AFRICAN AMERICANS CANT DO ANYTHING WELL NEWSFLLASH FUCK FACE OUR PRESIDENT IS BLACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. and learn how to spell “newsflash” before you start saying how much you are able to achieve…

  2. Holy cow…how did I miss this post?? Considering what the most infamous white/male MPD chief Harold Breier allowed to happen on his watch…Elliot’s post is offensive.

    I do like Chief Flynn and I think he’s doing a really good job under the circumstances. Chief Flynn has enemies within the rank and file of the MPD…and they are going to do whatever it takes to discredit him. Unfortunately…some cops rather play politics…and discrediting Chief Flynn will help them get their guy elected governor. Thankfully…many of their attacks are transparent and easily dismissed with facts.

  3. Funny thing – I’ll bet those of you blogging these racial comments back in forth are living in Milwaukee County. This is your community people. It belongs to all of us regardless of your race. We have totally lost focus on what is truly important and we wonder what’s happening to the world. Quit adding to the problem and start figuring out a way to help out. Schools taught us that in kindergarten, right?

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