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Barrett Praises State Decision to Put Additional Corrections Officers in Milwaukee, Calls the Move a “Great First Step”
Mayor Tom Barrett this morning thanked Governor Jim Doyle for his move to assemble an elite group of 13 probation and parole officers to work with Milwaukee law enforcement to provide intense supervision of the highest-risk offenders coming out of prison and returning to Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Last month, Barrett called a meeting with officials from Milwaukee Police Department and the state Department of Corrections to bring heightened attention to a series of high-profile crimes in the City of Milwaukee committed by suspects either on probation or parole, including the murder of Samaritan Frank Moore, Jr. and Special Olympian Brandon Spewer.
“It is my number one priority to make Milwaukee a stronger and safer city,” said Mayor Barrett. “I have increased police spending by $5 million to put more than 50 additional cops on the street next year, but we have to have more help in keeping tabs on the bad guys.
“I want to thank Governor Doyle for working with me and the Chief to put more Corrections officers in Milwaukee.
“I want these agents working with our police in our district stations to target individuals who have a history of violent criminal behavior.”
In 2005, one out of every five homicide suspects and victims were on active probation or parole; one out of every three had a weapons or violence-related arrest record. In July of this year, Milwaukee Police arrested 3,693 individuals. Mayor Barrett asked for an analysis of the arrest records which showed that out of 2,500 records reviewed, over 500 of the individuals were on probation or parole.
Barrett continued, “Milwaukee police officers do an excellent job of catching the bad guys. I want violent and repeat offenders taken off our streets, away from our kids, out of our neighborhoods and locked up.”
