October 11, 2007

Success of Neighborhood Safety Initiative

Earlier this month I joined Milwaukee Police Chief Nannette Hegerty, Aldermen Michael Murphy and Willie Wade, President of the Milwaukee Urban League Ralph Hollmon, and many other community and law enforcement officials to announce the results of the Neighborhood Safety Initiative.

The Neighborhood Safety Initiative, or NSI, was a 19-week program (May 20 – September 29) designed to beef up police patrols during the summer months – the time of the year that historically experiences an uptick in crime.  The NSI created an additional mobile police district that utilized intelligence and crime data, and directed patrols to target violent crime and quality of life offenses in neighborhoods across Milwaukee.

The results of the Neighborhood Safety Initiative are in, and they show a dramatic decrease in violent crime across the City, both during the summer and year-to-date.  As the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported in its coverage today of the NSI, "Citywide, serious crime was down 9% overall. Crime also dropped in nine of the 10 most serious categories..."

Looking at the statistical evidence, the Neighborhood Safety Initiative is the only part of the Milwaukee Police Department's crime-fighting strategy that has changed from 2006 to 2007, thus the only logical explanation behind the decrease.  Here are some key results of the NSI:

NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS

Before NSI
Jan. 1 – May 19, 2007 = 159
Jan. 1 – May 19, 2006 = 160
(slight decrease)

During NSI
May 20 – Sept. 29, 2007 = 216
May 20 – Sept. 29, 2006 = 315
(31% decrease)

Overall Year-to-Date
Jan. 1 – Sept. 29, 2007 = 375
Jan. 1 – Sept. 29, 2006 = 475
(21% decrease)

ARMED ROBBERIES

Before NSI
Jan. 1 – May 19, 2007 = 937
Jan. 1 – May 19, 2006 = 819
(14% increase)

During NSI
May 20 – Sept. 29, 2007 = 827
May 20 – Sept. 29, 2006 = 1,057
(22% decrease)

Overall Year-to-Date
Jan. 1 – Sept. 29, 2007 = 1,764
Jan. 1 – Sept. 29, 2006 = 1,876
(6% decrease)

HOMICIDES

Before NSI
Jan. 1 – May 19, 2007 = 39
Jan. 1 – May 19, 2006 = 33
(18% increase)

During NSI
May 20 – Sept. 29, 2007 = 38
May 20 – Sept. 29, 2006 = 48
(20.8% decrease)    

Overall Year-to-Date
Jan. 1 – Sept. 29, 2007 = 77
Jan. 1 – Sept. 29, 2006 = 81
(4.9% decrease)   

In addition to reducing violent crime, NSI patrols recovered 174 firearms, and the combined efforts of the Neighborhood Safety Initiative and police district personnel all but eliminated cruising during the summer of 2007.

One of the aspects of the Neighborhood Safety Initiative that I am most proud of is the focus on police-community relations.  Officers on patrol reached out to residents and business owners, cultivating contacts and developing personal relationships built on trust and respect.  All told, police officers made more than 51,000 positive citizen and business contacts during the Neighborhood Safety Initiative.  These are exactly the types of contacts that bring the community and law enforcement together, and strengthen public safety for all of Milwaukee.

One homicide is one too many, one shooting is one too many, and one robbery is one too many, and I recognize that the Neighborhood Safety Initiative is just one part of our anti-crime agenda.  But I am proud of this proactive strategy and the Milwaukee Police officers who made it successful this year.  I have designated $1.8 million in my 2008 City of Milwaukee budget to fund the program again next summer, and I will continue to work to make all of Milwaukee safer and stronger.

Sincerely,

Mayor, City of Milwaukee

Visit my website at: http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/mayor