This week Wisconsin Republican lawmakers called on Mayor Cavalier Johnson to urge Police Chief Jeffrey Norman to "temporarily reorganize MPD to allow for the maximum amount of available sworn officers to be assigned to our streets." The Mayor’s office pushed back and  said "We thank the state legislators for offering their opinions on police staffing. What they neglect to acknowledge is that crime in Milwaukee is down considerably when compared to the same time as last year."

Mayor Johnson cited double-digit, year-to-date decreases in robberies, arsons, aggravated assaults, vehicle thefts, carjackings and non-fatal shootings.

While Milwaukee certainly has its challenges, is this another dog whistle? 

It’s also worth noting that the Milwaukee Police Association is in ongoing negotiations with the city on their union contract. With the city of Milwaukee budget process coming up there is always attention on how much the city invests in law enforcement versus how much they spend on preventative measures  like the Office of Violence Prevention.

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