Crime Drops in Milwaukee

Look at the figures.

In the first three months of 2008, major crime dropped by 11.8 percent.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Major crimes in Milwaukee decreased 11.8% in the first three months of 2008 compared with the same period last year, according to statistics released by the Milwaukee Police Department Thursday night.

Among the seven major crimes - homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft - only burglary increased, jumping 10.6%.

Homicide decreased 50%, from 26 killings in the first three months of 2007 to 13 in the first three months of this year.

The winter's harsh weather should get some, but not all, of the credit for the decrease in major crimes, said Police Chief Edward Flynn.

"I know a lot of people are going to want to give most of the credit to Jack Frost. Fine," Flynn said during a community meeting at Longfellow Elementary School on the south side. "It was cold out. That's not a bad thing when it comes to crime control. But the funny thing is over those same three months, our calls for service were pretty much exactly the same as last year. And more important, over those three months, rumor has it that it was just as cold and snowy in Chicago, and they had an increase in homicides."

In addition to the weather, Flynn said the statistical improvements are due in large part to cooperation among law enforcement agencies, increased involvement from citizens and community groups, and policing plans that target the most prevalent crimes in each police district.

"I think all of those things together create positive momentum, and I think that's what we've got now," Flynn said in an interview after the meeting. "We are far from done, and there is much improvement we can do."

The police department has begun targeting burglaries after the crime's increase over the first three months of 2008, especially in districts 2 and 6, Flynn said.

"It was a gradual trend that developed over the course of the three months," he said. "We've kept an eye on it. We found that there were some significant increases in a couple of districts. We focused on it, and we think a serious impact has been made."

...The decrease in major crimes shows that Milwaukee is "headed in the right direction," said Mayor Tom Barrett, who said he was pleased to see people sitting on porches and children playing while traveling to Thursday's meeting.

The large jump in burglaries is disturbing, but the improvements in all other areas is good news.

What remains to be seen is if the drop in crime is a trend that will continue or if it was an aberration.

Hopefully, it's a trend.