Karin Tyler confirmed by Milwaukee Common Council to lead violence prevention efforts

Milwaukee has a new head of violence prevention efforts. 

Karin Tyler, who was leading the Office of Community Wellness and Safety on an interim basis, was confirmed to the role in a 9-3 vote at the April 21 Common Council meeting. 

Alds. Sharlen Moore, Robert Bauman and Scott Spiker voted no on Tyler’s confirmation, while Milele Coggs and Council President Jose Perez abstained and Marina Dimitrijevic was excused. 

At the March 24 meeting, Common Council members voted 11-4 to send Tyler’s appointment back to the subcommittee for further deliberations after the Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention passed over Milwaukee for a requested $2 million grant. 

Tyler was not leading the department when OCWS applied for the grant, but her leadership has been questioned by some council members. Moore voiced concerns about funding and a need for more community input. 

Tyler was one of three original finalists for the role announced by Mayor Cavalier Johnson last year. The mayor instead bypassed the finalists and selected Adam Procell, who was forced to resign because state law bars convicted felons from holding leadership positions. After Procell resigned, Johnson put forward Tyler. 

Prior to Procell, Ashanti Hamilton was director of the office from 2022-2025.

Tyler has served in the department since 2017, following her tenure with the city’s Health Department, where she worked beginning in 2008.

Tyler was present at a news conference last week where officials discussed the quarterly crime statistics. Officials say all crime stats are down compared to the first quarter in 2025, except burglaries and thefts, which are slightly higher. 

“Let me be clear: the numbers are not the story. The people behind them are,” Tyler said. “Every incident impacts a mother, a father, a child, a block, and … a community’s sense of safety.”