By Ryan Haggerty
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Major crimes in Milwaukee decreased 11.8% in the first three months of 2008 compared with the same period last year, according to statistics released by the Milwaukee Police Department Thursday night.
Among the seven major crimes - homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft - only burglary increased, jumping 10.6%.
Homicide decreased 50%, from 26 killings in the first three months of 2007 to 13 in the first three months of this year.
The winter’s harsh weather should get some, but not all, of the credit for the decrease in major crimes, said Police Chief Edward Flynn.
“I know a lot of people are going to want to give most of the credit to Jack Frost. Fine,” Flynn said during a community meeting at Longfellow Elementary School on the south side. “It was cold out. That’s not a bad thing when it comes to crime control. But the funny thing is over those same three months, our calls for service were pretty much exactly the same as last year. And more important, over those three months, rumor has it that it was just as cold and snowy in Chicago, and they had an increase in homicides.”
In addition to the weather, Flynn said the statistical improvements are due in large part to cooperation among law enforcement agencies, increased involvement from citizens and community groups, and policing plans that target the most prevalent crimes in each police district.
“I think all of those things together create positive momentum, and I think that’s what we’ve got now,” Flynn said in an interview after the meeting. “We are far from done, and there is much improvement we can do.”
The police department has begun targeting burglaries after the crime’s increase over the first three months of 2008, especially in districts 2 and 6, Flynn said.
“It was a gradual trend that developed over the course of the three months,” he said. “We’ve kept an eye on it. We found that there were some significant increases in a couple of districts. We focused on it, and we think a serious impact has been made.”
The statistics for the first quarter of 2008 are preliminary uniform crime reporting totals from the state Office of Justice Assistance.
The decrease in major crimes shows that Milwaukee is “headed in the right direction,” said Mayor Tom Barrett, who said he was pleased to see people sitting on porches and children playing while traveling to Thursday’s meeting.
“That’s what this city should be,” he said. “That’s what this police department under this chief is trying to do. Having that simple goal of making this a city where people can come out and not be afraid is exactly what we want to achieve.”
The 50% decrease in homicides through the end of March is “truly phenomenal,” said Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm.
As of Thursday night, homicides were still down, but not by half - 25 homicides had been committed in Milwaukee, compared with 40 at this time last year, police said.
Flynn, Barrett and Chisholm cautioned that the first quarter’s decrease in major crimes should not prompt anyone to declare victory.
“We obviously are not going to rest on our laurels here,” Flynn said. “As (the weather) heats up, there’s always a spike in certain street crimes. I’m going to pledge to you that we’re going to continue to focus on those street crimes.”
Although only about two dozen citizens attended Thursday’s meeting - which also focused on policing initiatives specific to District 6 on the city’s southwest side - those who were interviewed said they were encouraged by the decrease in major crimes and have noticed improvements in their neighborhoods.
“We feel better,” said Juana Gutierrez, 44, a south side resident who said police shut down a drug house on her street. “There used to be shots (fired) around the block and next door to my house, but not now. That’s good.”
South sider Betty Grinker, 64, said the decrease in major crimes is cause for optimism.
“I’m confident that we’re going to have a solid end result and get back to Milwaukee being a good place to live and raise a family,” she said.
Copyright 2008 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel