|
The mayor approved a program of 15 community service officers to begin this year in Milwaukee. They have been used around the nation since the 1970s and they direct traffic, respond to traffic crashes (there are 13,000 annually in Milwaukee), respond to after the fact offenses, fill out reports and gather evidence. They are not armed and do not have the power of arrest. They are paid less than a sworn officer, and free up officers for response to calls where the power of arrest and a highly trained officer are needed.
For citizens, the use of Community Service Officers should result in better service at lower cost. Opponents used the same arguments against hiring meter maids. This police chief did not see but a limited use for them (mainly inside or working with another officer). At a recent committee meeting, the chief made remarks that lead me to believe we will not see movement in hiring for this position until she is no longer chief.
The Common Council has also authorized a study of police staffing to be completed this summer. Milwaukee has the seventh largest number of police officers per capita in the nation but is 22nd in size. What are other cities doing that we are not? Shouldn't we then have less crime? Are we using officers efficiently? If other cities went to school crossing guards, meter maids and community service officers before we did, what else are they doing that we are not? What new strategies are needed or techniques will help us? I believe this study will help set a course that we can afford.
Police Chief Needs Crime Plan
It seems strange to me that council members and the mayor would be asked for a plan to fight crime. It is even stranger that the city would get to a point that an alderman proposes a crime plan, including use of the National Guard.
The need for a crime plan seems to come, not from crime alone, but the fact that the chief of police has not left the public with the confidence that she has one. While the department is fighting crime, there have not been announcements along the way of crime fighting efforts. When the string of robberies occured on the south side, there were no announcements from the chief to assure the public that it was being worked on. There were special efforts but none were announced.
Announcing efforts prevents crime and lets the public know that something is being done about it. Is the thought that if the crooks know that the police are doing something, they'll stop and we won't catch them? Does that mean if we don't announce a plan they can rob, terrorize and murder until they are caught?
I don't think that is why we hire a chief of police. Preventing crime should be the goal. Previous chiefs announced quality of life policing, cracking down on even the smallest violations, stepped up traffic enforcement and efforts to reduce crime. By not saying anything except that we're having a crime spree makes it seem like the police are doing nothing or just the usual to combat crime problems. Being silent just fuels the image that nothing is being done and that crime is out of control.
State law in Wisconsin gives only the chief the power to run the police department and insulates the chief from political influence. The mayor and Common Council can not direct the chief to carry out enforcement efforts or plans. The power and responsibility to assign police and fight crime is the chief's alone. |