Column: Milwaukee Deserves Action, Not Just Words, on Violent Crime

Milwaukee is a city with deep character and resilient people, but its residents are being failed by leadership that talks a lot about public safety but refuses to act with the urgency needed now.

The murder of Milwaukee Police Officer Kendall Corder in a cold-blooded ambush late last month reminded us yet again that the brave men and women who step up to protect us are paying the ultimate price because city leaders are unwilling to get serious about violent crime.

Milwaukee ranks fifth in the nation for line-of-duty police deaths despite not even being one of the 30 most populous cities in the country, according to a recent TMJ4 report. Milwaukee’s leaders should never accept this grim reality. But when their response ends with press release statements instead of community-wide action, the lack of progress remains the same.

The impact of violent crime is not limited to law enforcement. As of this writing there have been 73 homicides in our city so far this year—an improvement over past years, but still 3 more than the same time in 2024. Each victim was someone’s child, friend, or neighbor—far too many were young children—their lives cut short by an epidemic of violence that far too many seem willing to tolerate.

Milwaukee stands in contrast to similar cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia, where homicides are down 22% and 9% respectively, and New Orleans, which has record low murders.

Milwaukee deserves better. When an officer is gunned down in the line of duty or a child is killed by stray bullets from a drive-by, it should be a clear call to action for community leaders. But instead of decisive action, residents get passive responses like press releases, violence prevention offices, and political posturing.

Instead of doing everything possible to support law enforcement, we get debates about whether robust policing actually works. It does—in New York City in the 1990s, crime dropped 70% when police were given the resources and latitude to do their job.

Instead of a plan to keep repeat violent offenders behind bars, we get faculty lounge meditations about equity. Lost in the arguments that ensue are the vast majority of law-abiding citizens who are harmed by violence in their neighborhoods.

Protecting the public is government’s first duty. I’ve pushed several bills through the Wisconsin legislature to help support police and keep repeat violent criminals off the street. I admit that politics is downstream from the social problems that enable violence, but leaders who are willing to do the hard work can help foster a culture of life.

We cannot continue to let criminals terrorize our neighborhoods and murder innocent children and citizens. Leaders in politics, faith, business, education and elsewhere must unite not just to punish crime, but to reverse the cultural disintegration that leads to disrespect for life. Political leadership can and should take the lead.

I will continue working at the state level to enhance public safety. But local officials must choose to do what’s difficult, complicated and maybe even tedious—a comprehensive city-wide effort to fight the culture of violence.

The stakes are too high for the same tried-and-failed approach we always get when a tragedy unfolds. It’s time for city leaders to take action in respecting and protecting the value of every life.