Nan Hegerty Retires

Milwaukee's Police Chief Nan Hegerty is retiring.

I've repeatedly called for her resignation. I think Milwaukee is in desperate need of a new police chief.

Hegerty's retirement can only be viewed as a hopeful sign for the city in crisis.

So what's the problem?

Hegerty is following in the footsteps of Milwaukee TV news anchor Jerry Taff and Milwaukee radio icon Bob Reitman.

Her retirement is scheduled to be so far off in the future that the announcement loses its significance.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Hegerty, the department's first female chief, will retire on Nov. 16, according to a memo she addressed to the entire department and was dated today.

In the memo, Hegerty said she had notified the Fire and Police Commission, the appointed city body that will select the next chief, to give them enough time to conduct a search.

Hegerty must think that the Fire and Police Commission will need to search far and wide for her replacement.

Nearly a year is a long time.

..."There is much work to be done before my retirement in November. I am confident that we, as a team, will continue to move the department forward throughout my tenure as chief of police."

A few things:

Yes, there's a huge amount of work to be done before NEXT THANKSGIVING.

I wonder why Hegerty is "confident." I see no reason for her to feel that way.

During her tenure as chief of police, the MPD hasn't moved forward. Has it?

I'm not confident that during her long goodbye progress will be made in controlling the city's crime problems. I'm quite confident they will continue unabated.

Hegerty is out of the office today on a previously planned day off and was not available for comment, said Anne E. Schwartz, department spokeswoman.

Convenient.

Hegerty not only put out the retirement memo on a Friday, but on a scheduled day off.

Gee, do you think that was a coincidence?

Those sort of timed statements bug me.

In a statement, Mayor Tom Barrett wrote that he understands "her decision to spend more time with her husband and pursue her personal interests.

"Her legacy at the Milwaukee Police Department will be one to build on. Chief Hegerty has had a distinguished career and during her tenure as Milwaukee's seventeenth - and first female - police chief, she has implemented policies and strategies that have strengthened the department and steeled our shared resolve to create a safer, stronger Milwaukee."

I'm sure Barrett welcomes Hegerty's retirement announcement.

It marks the approach of some badly needed change at the top; but that change may be a long time coming.

I don't think that Barrett can afford to wait.

The buck stops with him when it comes to crime in his city.

Each shooting, each ghastly violent act reflects on Barrett's lack of leadership when it comes to making Milwaukee a safe place to live and work.

By the way, who cares that Hegerty is female, other than her husband?

It makes no difference to me. None.

What matters is how successful an individual is on the job.

I don't question Hegerty's commitment to the MPD and the city. When she became the chief of police, she wasn't in for a cakewalk. She walked into a cesspool.

Hegerty deserves credit for her professionalism and her efforts to confront internal problems within the police department. She's tried to get a handle on the city's problems. Unfortunately, what she's accomplished hasn't been enough.

Her retirement is a good thing for the city.

Barrett's retirement would be an even better thing.

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Read Hegerty's announcement.

Read Barrett's statement.

Read Chairman of the Milwaukee County Board Lee Holloway's statement.