Legislators Call for Action from Mayor Johnson Regarding Increased Violence

August 6, 2025

Mayor Cavalier Johnson
200 E. Wells Street Room 201
Milwaukee, WI 53202
City Hall

Dear Mayor Johnson,

We have heard the calls from citizens about the increased levels of violence in the City of Milwaukee, especially in the once-peaceful areas downtown. Citizens are urging immediate action to be taken despite the current challenges facing the city and the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). Some have called for the National Guard to be deployed to the City of Milwaukee to curb the ongoing chaos and violence. This request underscores the widespread concern among Wisconsinites.

Deadly reckless driving, increased homicides, and now a proliferation of violence in the downtown area, including Water Street, have reached a breaking point. Milwaukee and law enforcement agencies across the state have struggled to recruit and retain officers to protect our streets. However, this cannot continue to serve as an excuse for inaction. 

In response to a recent string of violence on Water Street, MPD announced it is moving officers from other deserving neighborhoods to address issues downtown, but this will not resolve the issue and may worsen the lack of enforcement in neighborhoods that desperately need it. The challenges facing public safety and MPD are significant, but reallocating officers from one area to another is not a sustainable solution.

As members of the Wisconsin Legislature, we ask you to consider the following steps to help address these issues. First, we ask you to urge Chief Norman to temporarily reorganize MPD to allow for the maximum amount of available sworn officers to be assigned to our streets. This could include senior command staff and Chief Norman. The dangers of an understaffed MPD have been thoroughly documented. Calls to address this before it became a critical issue have largely fallen on deaf ears, and now law-abiding citizens are left to deal with the consequences.

Second, it is imperative that the labor agreement between the Milwaukee Police Association and the City of Milwaukee be immediately resolved. Officers working without a contract for nearly three years is unacceptable, leaving officers feeling like second-class employees. This situation has eroded morale among the police ranks and made recruiting new officers nearly impossible.

The City of Milwaukee needs every available sworn officer out on our streets protecting our citizens and restoring law and order. While we stand committed to assisting in any way possible, the actions of local officials will ultimately determine the safety of Milwaukee’s residents.