Safe Start to 2008 in Milwaukee?

Good news!

A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online headline today reads: "2008 off to a safe start in Milwaukee."

Twelve days into the new year, the city has yet to record its first homicide, police reported this morning.

That compares to three homicides reported for the same period in 2007, Milwaukee police Capt. Timothy Burkee said.

...In addition, not a single person was injured in a shooting in the city yesterday, Burkee reported.

Milwaukee has no homicides in 2008, and not a single person was injured in a shooting on Saturday.

Wow. What progress!

It's like a new Milwaukee -- peaceful, nonviolent, harmonious.

Right?

Wrong.

I guess everything is relative, but in my opinion, the headline is an outright lie.

While the information about homicides and Saturday's lack of shootings may be accurate, this piece from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is misleading if you haven't been keeping up with the JS's own daily violent crime reports.

Just a few examples:

From the Journal Sentinel, January 2, 2008:

A 49-year-old man is recovering this morning after being shot by a woman last night inside his apartment on the city's northwest side, authorities said.

Milwaukee police said detectives were called to the home about 6:30 p.m. after the victim was shot following an argument. He lives at the apartment with the woman in the 9400 block of W. Sheridan Ave.

From the Journal Sentinel, January 4, 2008:

An 18-year-old woman accused of stabbing her father multiple times during an argument remains jailed this morning while the man is in critical but stable condition with wounds to his neck, chest and head, according to Milwaukee police.

Police said the victim, 34, was stabbed during an argument with his daughter in the 3700 block of N. 13th St. He is expected to survive his injuries.

(Note the age difference between father and daughter.)

From the Journal Sentinel, January 9, 2008:

Two teenagers were shot in a youth agency's parking lot Wednesday night, Milwaukee police said.

An 18-year-old man was shot in the elbow, and a 16-year-old boy was shot in the shoulder around 7:30 p.m. in the 900 block of E. Garfield Ave., said Milwaukee Police Capt. Christopher Domagalski. The wounds were not considered life threatening for either victim, he said. The parking lot is at the COA Youth & Family Centers, a youth-serving agency.

From the Journal Sentinel, January 12, 2008:

Five people were injured, one critically in three separate shootings in Milwaukee overnight, Milwaukee Police Capt. Timothy Burkee said today.

According to Burkee:

- A 24-year-old Milwaukee man is in critical but stable condition after being shot at his apartment in the 1300 block of N. 22nd St. around 12:50 p.m. Friday. Police are seeking a known suspect.

- Two men, ages 25 and 32, were shot outside the Private X club in the 500 block of N. Water St. around 1:15 a.m. today. Police said the men, who were shot during a disturbance outside the club, are expected to survive.

- A female bartender and a 23-year-old male patron were shot outside the Sisters and Brothers Place Tavern in the 4100 block of W. Lisbon St. around 2:20 a.m. Both are expected to survive. The 60-year-old bartender was monitoring the dispersal of customers after the bar's closing when shots were fired from a passing maroon-colored car.

I've just highlighted some shootings and stabbings. I didn't get into the armed robberies.

By my definition, this is not a "safe" start.

But that's just me.