Violent Crime Down in Milwaukee

Good news! 

Over the first half of the year, Milwaukee’s violent crime decreased 19.4% compared with the start of last year, Police Chief Edward Flynn reported today.

“Our violent crime decreases seemed very significant, which caused me to make everybody go back and check the numbers again,” Flynn said in speaking with the Journal Sentinel’s editorial board this afternoon.

The department’s numbers showed decreases in each of the violent crime categories, including:

- Homicide, 33 in 2008, compared with 48 in 2007.

- Rape, 88 in 2008, compared with 124 in 2007.

- Robbery, 1,392 in 2008, compared with 1,607 in 2007.

- Aggravated assault, 1,703 in 2008, compared with 2,210 in 2007.

Among property crimes noted, only burglary increased over the same period in 2007 - particularly on the city’s south side - while drops came in the first six months for larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. Overall, property crimes were down 4.5%.

1. I’m hoping these results are due to Flynn cracking some heads.  Unfortunately (but in reality fortunately since who cares what brings crime down) I think there may be some of this related to how terrible our weather was this winter and spring. Kept the bad guys off the streets.  Still this is encouraging.

   Posted by on July 28, 2008 at 2254 hrs




2. Time will tell I guess Steve - but getting bad guys off the streets probably doesn’t hurt - no matter what the weather is.

   Posted by on July 29, 2008 at 0843 hrs




3. Shows what happens when the first thing you do not do is fire a police captain for calling thugs, thugs.
   Next is putting Mcgee in jail.  That sends message that you mean business.

   Posted by on July 29, 2008 at 1758 hrs