Michelle Obama, Bradley Tech, Milwaukee

Michelle Obama is in Milwaukee today.

She has a campaign event scheduled at Bradley tech.

Grassroots Event with Michelle Obama - First Lady of the United States (Day of Action)

Join the First Lady Michelle Obama in Milwaukee for a grassroots event!

Doors open for the event at 12 - Noon

The First Lady's event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required due to limited space, and will be available to the public starting on a first come, first serve basis at the following pick-up locations.

Time:
Thursday, August 23, 2012 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Host:
Emily Dalton

Location:
Bradley Tech High School (Milwaukee, WI)
700 South 4th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204

I was surprised to hear Michelle would be at Bradley Tech. Obviously, it's a small venue.

More than that, Bradley Tech has been the site of crime, violence, and brawls, repeatedly. On several occasions, a massive police response has been required to restore order. It's an extremely dysfunctional Milwaukee public school.

I hope Michelle doesn't ignore that fact.

She should lecture the parents of the Bradley Tech students involved in gangs and fights and crime and guns and drugs.

That would be better than Michelle telling people to eat zucchini.
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Read about Bradley Tech, scene of fighting, not learning.

Bradley Tech-Bay View Brawl

Loaded Gun and Drugs at Bradley Tech

Bradley Tech Erupts -- AGAIN

Police Monitoring Bradley Tech

ANOTHER Fight at Bradley Tech

Bradley Tech: Chaos and Cover-Up

Bradley Tech: Chaos and Cover-Up

On Wednesday, November 10, Milwaukee's Bradley Tech High School was locked down because of a fight.

The incident was reported in the online edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The article was very short on details.

MPS spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin described the fight as small and said no one had been injured or arrested. It was not clear how many people were involved in the fight.

The school was locked down until about 11:30 a.m. because officials "wanted to send a strong message right away," St. Aubin said.

There was no follow-up by the Journal Sentinel, just this blurb.

So about a month ago, the newspaper reports on a small fight with no injuries or arrests.

That was newsworthy.

Question: Why wasn't the incident that occurred at Bradley Tech on Tuesday, November 30, considered newsworthy? By any measure, it was not a "small fight."

I want to know how a situation that resulted in police arresting about 20 people, seizing a sawed-off rifle and a fake gun, and sending dozens of squad cars to a public school could go unreported.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

NOT ONE WORD REPORTED ANYWHERE. NOTHING! ZILCH!

Until one week later.

Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan released a statement yesterday, December 7, revealing the situation. He blew the lid off the cover-up.

Here's Donovan's statement:

Bradley Tech: Guns, Gangs and Public Kept in the Dark

Statement of Alderman Bob Donovan
December 7, 2010

Last week, Milwaukee police arrested nearly 20 people and seized a rifle and a fake handgun at Bradley Tech High School. On Tuesday, November 30, no fewer than 39 squad cars responded to the school between 2:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, December 1, 29 squads were assigned to patrol near Bradley Tech between 9 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., and on December 2, 14 MPD squads were assigned to patrol outside the school during periods covering the beginning and end of the school day.

The trouble apparently all started with a fight involving rival gang members. The information I’m relaying to the public was not – to my knowledge – reported by the news media, nor am I aware of any information about the incidents being shared with parents of Bradley Tech students.

It is unconscionable to me that the citizens of Milwaukee haven’t been made aware of this situation at the school, and it’s an insult to all Bradley Tech parents and students that this matter has been kept under wraps. It’s also an insult to the decent teachers and staff at the school, who must work in chaotic and sometimes violent conditions.

In my opinion, what was once a proud Milwaukee high school is now sadly but simply an MPS dumping ground that is tarnishing the fine Bradley family name and legacy that helped build such a fine new, modern school facility.

I believe that it borders on criminal behavior for MPS officials not to have notified public officials about the incidents at Bradley Tech. The residents in the neighborhood have surely been appreciating the stepped up police presence, but they had no idea why it was happening. This is unforgivable, but not surprising to me.

The OpenSky police radio system has essentially eliminated the police transmissions that were once broadcast on scanners. The scanners – once a key tool for news operations to monitor situations and to send reporters and photographers to scenes – have gone silent in Milwaukee. In my opinion, this is keeping a lid on the media’s ability to cover news in the public domain. This is not good, and it’s not the way our free and democratic society should work.

As for the school, I believe it should be treated as a nuisance property, with MPS picking up the tab for the ridiculous level of police presence and babysitting that is going on.

I have a plan for restructuring MPS that is about two years old, and I’ve shared it publicly more than once. But where is the mayor on this issue? Where’s the leadership on this, a top issue for our city that affects the future of our children, of our economy, and the very fabric of our community?

What’s more, we really need to be asking why more than 80 MPD squads are needed at one of our public institutions of learning. Makes me wonder what those students are really learning there.

What the hell?

How could something as massive as this be kept from the public, the taxpayers funding Bradley Tech?

The media either were complicit in hushing up the brawl or they were too busy with idiotic "Speedbusters" and "Dirty Dining" features to know what's going on in Milwaukee.

In either case, the public is not being served well by the local media when they a miss or ignore a story of this magnitude.

Finally, a full week after the Bradley Tech brawl, Donovan's statement obviously forced the Journal Sentinel, TMJ4, WISN, CBS 58, and FOX 6 to report on the story.

Video.



What an embarrassment!

More embarrassing than the media's inexcusable failure to report on this major disturbance at a Milwaukee public school is Mayor Tom Barrett's reaction.

The online Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article doesn't even mention Barrett.

TMJ4 and CBS 58 did get a comment from the mayor.

Here's video from CBS 58.

Here's TMJ4 video.

Mayor Tom Barrett accuses Donovan of not checking facts before going public with the information. However, Barrett said he would want to hear from an administrator if a similar incident occurred at his own child’s school.

“I would want to know, there's no question, I think everyone would want to know,” Barrett said.

WHAT?

Barrett is whining about Donovan not checking facts?

He's angry with Donovan for not contacting Police Chief Ed Flynn and MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton?

Barrett should be communicating with the public instead of bitching about Donovan. He should be demanding that steps be taken to regain control of the school. He should be angry at the thugs and their thug parents. He should demand that they be held accountable for their actions.

Most definitely, Donovan should not be Barrett's target.

Good grief.

Of course, Barrett is being defensive. The cover-up makes him look dishonest and ineffectual as a leader.

I'm glad Donovan went public. If he didn't, taxpayers would not have been made aware of this most recent major brawl at Bradley Tech. Barrett had a week to address the citizens of Milwaukee about the violence. Flynn had a week to make a statement. MPS had a week to communicate with parents of kids attending Bradley Tech.

Complete silence. No communication whatsoever.

This isn't about Bob Donovan.

It's about a school in meltdown. It's about gangs.

Milwaukee citizens have a right to know about the crime in their city, about the state of the public school system, about the way public officials are dealing with the problems.

It's simply inexcusable for this information about Tech to have been kept from the public.

The Journal Sentinel found out about the "small fight" at Tech on November 10. Does the newspaper only report on fights that are relatively minor? What is that? The media had to know.

Barrett kept quiet about it.

The public wasn't told.

That's wrong. It's a dereliction of duty on Barrett's part.

Parents of students at Bradley Tech, the students that are there to learn and earn a high school diploma, should be really upset that they weren't told. They should be aware of the gang activity at the school and major disturbances. I think 18 arrests and nearly two dozen police squads qualifies as major. The lack of communication by MPS with parents is completely unacceptable.

The taxpayers, the ones funding the school, should be outraged. They're forced to give a significant portion of their earnings to the government. A significant portion of those dollars is used to fund the schools. And this is what they get for that investment?

Chaos.

It's time for Barrett and school official to solve problems, not try to cover them up.

Vincent High School: Violence

The good news: Bradley Tech High School was not the scene of pandemonium yesterday. Police didn't descend on the school to break up fights, make arrests, and attempt to restore order.

The bad news: Vincent High School erupted with violence on Monday.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Milwaukee Vincent High School was locked down Monday afternoon after a series of fights broke out inside the building, police and school district officials said.

Eight students have been taken into custody, Milwaukee police Lt. Charles Berard said. No injuries have been reported, he said.

The school, at 7501 N. Granville Road, was locked down about 2:15 p.m., Berard said.

Students have been dismissed by floor to limit the number of students exiting the building at the same time, said Berard and Roseann St. Aubin, a spokeswoman for Milwaukee Public Schools.

Several of the fights started in the cafeteria, St. Aubin said.

Police are still investigating the cause of the fights, Berard said.

That report doesn't quite capture the severity of what happened.

A report by Mick Trevey, TMJ 4, presents a more detailed picture.

Police were called to Milwaukee Vincent High School Monday after numerous fights broke out and the school became a scene of pandemonium and disorder.

"The kids were running freely, shoes all everywhere, clothes everywhere, blood all over the lunchroom tables, tables getting thrown," described high school sophomore Deomni Kyles.

According to police, there were numerous fights all over the building. A police lieutenant handling the response said that as soon as officers got one fight stopped, another would begin someplace else.

"It was out of control," said high school senior Deasia Richardon.

Milwaukee Public Schools said they were aware of two fights in the cafeteria. However, spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said that as many as 100 students were loitering in a common area outside of the cafeteria and refusing to go back to class.

She said the school staff declared a "code yellow" to try and break up the group. But instead, she said students began running through the hallways. The school then declared a "code red" to enforce a lock down of the building.

However, even after the lock down began, students were seen walking in and out of the building.

TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Mick Trevey was brought inside the locked down building by school staff and observed students running around the hallways and screaming. School staff members tried to yell back at the students but were unable to gain control.

"It took a while to sort it out," said spokeswoman St. Aubin. "You have to follow through on disciplining and you have to make certain you're getting to the young people who were not listening today to staff."

Students gave accounts of a school in chaos. "The security guards couldn't do nothing," said Richardon. "They was sitting there just trying to block them from not coming in. But they running over there fighting. It was chaos, it was crazy."

Monday night, the school staff met to discuss the incident. St. Aubin said the school will review procedures and vowed not to let the school become a scene of disorder again.

Milwaukee taxpayers, take note of your tax dollars at work.

There was more control at the zoo than at Vincent yesterday.

I wonder if the chaos affected learning. Do you think Vincent students will have their homework done when they arrive at school today? Of course, I'm talking about the ones who weren't arrested.
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UPDATE: Vincent student tased by police on Tuesday.

ANOTHER Fight at Bradley Tech

UPDATE, December 8, 2010: Bob Donovan: Bradley Tech Brawl and Cover-Up
________________

Here we go again.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Milwaukee police have a person in custody after a fight at Bradley Tech High School this morning that resulted in an officer getting punched in the face.

Milwaukee police responded to a call this morning about several fights at the school, 700 S. 4th St.

"Apparently one of the officers who responded was punched in the face," Milwaukee police Sgt. Mark Stanmeyer said.

"We have several people in custody" including the person who threw the punch, Stanmeyer said.

From 620 WTMJ:

"Shortly after school started there was a fight that broke out," said Capt. Eduardo Negron. "It carried over until more fights broke out and officers who are assigned to the school intervened."

"While they did so, one of the officers took a punch to the face and that officer is being conveyed out for medical treatment."

Negron was unsure of the exact number of students arrested, saying only that officers have "several people in custody."

From TMJ 4:

Bradley Tech student Yelitza Torres says she does not feel safe at Bradley Tech.

TODAY’S TMJ4’s Melanie Stout: “What else goes on at school? Just fights all the time?”

“Fights, sometimes they bring weapons, like last year they brought a weapon. This school is just bad. That’s the only word for it is bad. It’s a bad school. Kids should not even be coming to this school,” Torres said.

Melanie Stout: “Is it hard to learn here?”

“I’m telling you, my fourth block, we don’t do no learning. The teacher teaches to the people that listen. The other kids jumping on tables, knocking on the windows to see the people downstairs, running to other classes, spraying the fire things. You don’t learn nothing,” Torres said.

Nine students received state disorderly conduct charges.

We’re also told a number of students are being suspended.

Police remain on the scene.

Unbelievable.

What really bugs me is that Bradley Tech is a state-of-the-art facility and better equipped than many suburban and private schools.

The educational opportunities are there for the taking.

The kids do have a chance.

Clearly, the answer isn't pouring more money into MPS and higher property taxes.

Perhaps there needs to be a mandatory but simple program that addresses proper etiquette for students.

Rule 1: Don't assault police officers.

Does that require a tax hike?

Police Monitoring Bradley Tech

Earlier this week, Riverside University High School students had a confrontation with police after dismissal. Nine students were arrested and police officers received broken bones during the confrontation.

Police Chief Ed Flynn said officers were monitoring the area near the school because of fights there recently.

Yesterday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that police are also monitoring dismissal at Bradley Tech High School.

Milwaukee police are monitoring dismissal at Bradley Tech High School today based on information police have received about the need for a presence during this last week of school.

Spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said there is "no giant-size presence" but noted, "we have received some information that it might be a good idea for us to monitor dismissal. In the last few days of school we know that young people can get excited."

...She said, "We're going to monitor dismissal at Bradley Tech in the next couple of days to make sure all of the students exit safely and they start their summer out the right way."

It's so frustrating that so much money is poured into Milwaukee Public Schools. Students have the opportunity to receive an education. It's there for the taking; but rather than seizing that opportunity, some students are more concerned with fighting than studying.

What's worse, these are the "good kids," the ones still attending school.

It's very discouraging.

There also was an incident yesterday at an MPS elementary school.

An elementary school on Milwaukee's northwest side was on lockdown this afternoon after staff reported shots fired outside Richard Kluge Elementary shortly before noon.

There were no children outside at the time the shots were heard at 5760 N. 67th St., according to MPS spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin. There are no reports of any injuries at the school, which enrolls students in kindergarten through grade 5.

Milwaukee police are on the scene investigating. A police District 4 sergeant said today that officers have confirmed that shots were fired at a nuisance property about two blocks from the school. Preliminary information indicates that no one was injured.

St. Aubin said that children were moved from the cafeteria - where some were having lunch - away from windows facing the playground to the gym for safety when the shots were heard. Staff initially believed they occurred on the playground, however, police said they did not.

"It was described as some sort of neighborhood disturbance," St. Aubin said of the shots fired.

This was a neighborhood disturbance, not children or their parents firing shots. Still, it's upsetting to think that precautions needed to be taken to protect elementary school kids from gunfire during the school day.

It's a war zone.

What will happen to the children when school is out for the summer?

Bradley Tech Erupts -- AGAIN

UPDATE: 15 arrested after Bradley Tech fight

As many as 15 students were arrested after a fight at Bradley Tech this morning, including one who was accused of battery to a police officer, according to Milwaukee police.

District 2 Milwaukee police Lt. Marianne Rodriguez said one student was resisting arrest when an officer, 35, was hurt after a fight between two girls broke out at the school about 10 a.m. today. Police responded after about 100 students gathered to watch the fight and refused to disperse, according to school district officials.

The officer planned to seek medical treatment for minor injuries, according to Rodriguez.

She said the other arrests included seven for fighting, four to six for truancy and one for obstructing.

Police reports at District 2 this afternoon indicate that 27 students would be suspended.

Rodriguez said six to eight squads would remain at the school throughout the day.

Six to eight squads keeping order at a school? Wouldn't one squad be sufficient? How explosive is the situation?

It's unacceptable that those resources are being used to police a school rather than having them out on the streets.

_________________

It was "CODE RED" at Bradley Tech High School this morning.

The school was on lockdown and a heavy police presence was called in to control the situation.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

School district officials are investigating at least one fight that broke out this morning at Bradley Tech High School, where about two dozen Milwaukee police cars responded to campus.

Most students have returned to the building. Police remain at the campus.

Roseann St. Aubin, spokeswoman for Milwaukee Public Schools, confirmed that some fights broke out and that Milwaukee police were called because some of the school's own safety aides were attending training off campus.

Jeremiah Mertens, a freshman who was leaving the school shortly after the earlier disturbances, said students were yelling "East side, west side," and estimated that students were fighting on all four floors of the school.

"There's crazy stuff going on in there," Mertens said. "I was on my way to the bathroom. It was just madness."

At least two students who were locked out of the building after an earlier lock-down were arrested by police. They said they were not involved in the fighting and had been told earlier by police to leave the building.

...At 10:55 a.m., administrators announced the change of class and said if students do not change classes in an orderly fashion, they would join the 13 students already outside, "whether you have a coat or not."

The Journal Sentinel provides this update:

School officials just announced that order has been restored at Bradley Tech High School, after a fight at the school earlier in the morning led to a larger disturbance and more than 20 Milwaukee police squad cars responded to the school.

Roseann St. Aubin, spokeswoman for Milwaukee Public Schools, said at Bradley Tech that the incident began as a fight between two girls in a common area that quickly drew about 100 other students. Some other fighting and scuffling followed, she said, but there were no injuries reported.

St. Aubin said school officials are sorting out possible discipline, including suspensions, for about a dozen students. She said some others had been arrested on truancy or resisting arrest charges.

Some of the safety aides at Bradley Tech were away at training this morning, St. Aubin said. While she said she was a little surprised by how many police arrived, she said the school district is not questioning the department's response and appreciates the help.

I certainly wouldn't fault the police response. It may seem a bit excessive to have twenty squads report to the scene, but Bradley Tech has had some high profile brawls.

In January 2007, there was the "family affair" fight turned brawl at Bradley Tech.

Police and Milwaukee Public Schools officials are blaming a cellular phone for causing a fight to escalate at Bradley Tech High School on Milwaukee's south side last week.

The school district said adults were called to join the fight. Some even showed up with small children in tow.

...[A]ccording to MPS, some girls who were fighting used their phones to call for backup.

[Peter Pochowski, a Milwaukee Public Schools Safety Coordinator,] said cell phone calls invited three carloads of outsiders to the fight.

"For those responsible persons, cell phones are not a problem. It's those irresponsible people, those students who call their family members who then call other family members, and have the audacity to come into a school," Pochowski said.

When the fists stopped flying, six teens and five adults were cited.

At the end of that same month last year, there was the Bradley Tech - Bay View brawl after a basketball game between the two schools.

An overtime victory by Bradley Tech over the visiting Bay View High School basketball team Tuesday night sent hundreds of fans onto the court, sparking a disturbance that injured four police officers and two students and led to at least 10 arrests, officials said.

A female spectator suffered a seizure at the height of the disturbance and required medical attention at the scene, Milwaukee Public Schools spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said.

Dozens of Milwaukee police officers from all parts of the city were dispatched to the school, 700 S. 4th St., about 9:30 p.m. after the end of the game, in which the Tech Trojans defeated the Bay View Redcats, 82-81.

Lt. Alfonso Morales of the Milwaukee Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau said four police officers and two female students, one of whom had the seizure, suffered minor injuries.

The disturbance "was the result of fans rushing the court to celebrate and students from Bay View not being too happy about that," Morales said.

"Tech won the game, and then some kids from Bay View jumped a Tech kid," said Myisha Milton, a Bradley Tech ninth-grader.

The Police Department issued an all-city call upon hearing reports of the disturbance, resulting in a widespread police response, Morales said.

Watch video of the brawl.

FIFTY squads were sent to that scene. FIFTY.

There have been other problems at Bradley Tech; much lower profile incidents, but disturbing nonetheless.

For example, from April 26, 2007:

A 15-year-old boy remains in custody today after school officials at Bradley Tech High School followed up on a tip that allegedly led them to a loaded handgun and marijuana in his locker.

Police were called to the school, 700 S. 4th St., about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers arrested the student on charges of possession with intent to deliver and possession of a dangerous weapon by a child, according to Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz.

Schwartz said there are officers assigned to the school, however, they were at a district station processing another arrest from the school that occurred earlier in the day.

Bradley Tech is no dump. It's a $50 million state of the art facility. The late Jane Pettit donated $20 million as the lead gift to renovate the school.

The students who attend Bradley Tech are being offered a tremendous educational opportunity.

And in spite of being in this incredible learning environment, some students there prefer to behave like thugs.

They are literally throwing away their futures when they throw away their education.

No one can say that the problems at Tech can be traced to students being trapped in a decrepit facility.

The fact that Bradley Tech students are so fortunate to have the opportunity to get a quality education makes these brawls all the more disturbing.

Hand opportunity to these students on a silver platter and they don't take it.

As far as today's incident goes, it's troubling to hear that a disagreement between two girls can quickly escalate into a brawl 100 students strong.

According to St. Aubin, "some of the safety aides at Bradley Tech were away at training this morning."

That sounds kind of lame. How many aides does the school have? How many were away? Is she suggesting that if those safety aides had been there police wouldn't have been needed?

Whatever.

This morning's trouble is just another indication of what a mess Milwaukee is.

What's the problem? No hope?

Isn't a $50 million public school a sign of hope?

Apparently not.

Anger, Fear, and the Community Meeting at Bradley Tech

Last night, some of Milwaukee's leaders met with residents of the south side to address neighborhood issues. Police are putting together a plan to tackle crime in the area.

The meeting was well attended. No doubt the recent murder of Miller executive Vic Milford had a lot to do with that.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Milwaukee police will unveil a new plan Wednesday to beef up their presence and tackle crime issues on the city's south side, including the neighborhood where a Miller Brewing Co. executive was shot and killed over the weekend.

Detectives are working some promising leads in the murder of 43-year-old Lodewikus "Vic" Milford, police officials said Monday. But they are still asking the public to tell investigators what they know.

Miller Brewing Co. is offering a $10,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of the robber who shot and killed Milford, a South African native who was the company's director of compensation and benefits.

Meanwhile, more than 100 residents from the Walker's Point business and entertainment area voiced anger and concern after the homicide early Saturday near S. 2nd St. and W. Walker St.

Mayor Tom Barrett, Police Chief Edward Flynn and other city leaders listened while residents lined up at Bradley Tech High School during a community meeting to share concern about police response times, nuisance properties, poor lighting, vehicle break-ins and other problems.

"I share your anger, and it's justified," Barrett said. "But we can't let that anger paralyze us."

Many residents of Walker's Point said they don't want their neighborhood to be dismantled by criminals. Police officials said violent crime has dropped in Walker's Point in the past year, but some residents don't agree.

"I lived here for 14 years and had no problems with crime. I walked home from the restaurants at night," said Kyle Cherek, a salesman who told Flynn he's witnessed a 20-person fight, had his car broken into and heard about his friends being mugged in the past year. "This is a real crucial moment."

I don't get this.

Again and again, officials cite statistics that crime has dropped.

Again and again, residents cite instances that prove the statistics don't paint an accurate picture.

Having some official tell you that crime in your neighborhood is on the decline when a man was just gunned down AFTER a robbery is a joke.

It reminds me of what was happening in Bay View last year. Yes, there have been a rash of armed robberies, but the city is really safe, blah, blah, blah.

BS.

It does no good for Mayor Tom Barrett or Police Chief Ed Flynn to toss out numbers in order to convince residents that things aren't as bad as they know them to be.

Such community meetings become little more than venting sessions for residents.

I don't think the officials are really listening. I don't think they get it.

...Flynn implored residents not to give up on their fight against crime.

"We can't let this incident drive a wedge between the community and the Police Department," Flynn said. "It isn't about pointing fingers. It's about being more effective."

I don't think people are frustrated with police officers or the departmant in general as much as they're frustrated with the leaders.

I think residents understand that the officers are doing their jobs and serving the citizens of Milwaukee. It's the higher-ups. They're the problem.

How many times are Milwaukeeans going to hear Barrett say that he feels their pain and then give him a pass?

Fair or not, the buck stops with Barrett.

Milwaukee Police Capt. David Zibolski said two people confronted Milford and three women in a parking lot, and that after they surrendered their valuables it appeared the robbery was over. But then one of the robbers shot Milford after he was in his car, Zibolski said.

Barrett said Milford was shot through a side window.

That makes me ill.

Only a truly evil, soulless individual would do something like that, evil to the core.

I wonder if the shooter was a teen. If so, and he's caught and tired, I hope he loses his freedom for the rest of his life.

Milford's companions have provided their accounts to police, but investigators are hoping to improve upon the limited descriptions they provided. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at (414) 935-7360.

Anyone with information?

That's a laugh. Maybe there were some witnesses, but there's no way others familiar with the crime will come forward.

You know that there are a number of people in the city right now with information on the robbery and murder, but these thugs don't talk.

Forever 4-year-old Jasmine Owens' murder is still unsolved, though it occurred on a crowded street last May. These thugs don't talk.

Even the $10,000 reward from Miller probably won't matter.

TMJ4 offers this account of the meeting:

Vic Milford's murder has touched a raw nerve here in this neighborhood and while many came here to listen they were also looking for answers.

They're upset. "Don't settle for that," one resident said.

They're concerned. Another speaker said "please do your homework because we can use your help."

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Edward Flynn listened as residents laid out their long list of concerns.

"Fear can destroy a community faster than crime can," Flynn said.

For chief Flynn it was his first test in the hot seat as he tried to win over the public's confidence.

"That murder took the life of a man it must not take the life from this community," Flynn said.

An angry finger waiving Al Jansen challenged city leaders who were calling the murder an isolated incident .

"It's not acceptable and if any one of our city father's who want to accept I challenge you," Jansen said.

Mayor Barrett shared Jansen's anger but not his accusation.

"Am I mad about it you bet I am," Barrett said. "We are going to fight back."

Barrett has been talking about fighting back for years, every time something horrific like this happens.

He has to fight harder. He has to go on offense.

Residents know the truth. These "isolated incidents" are increasing at a pace that is both frightening and infuriating.

Welcome to Milwaukee, Chief Flynn.

Bay View - Custer Brawl Didn't Happen

A black eye for MPS was avoided last night.

History almost repeated itself. The situation at Custer High School was on the verge of being a replay of the Bay View - Bradley Tech post-basketball game brawl last January.

Once again, Bay View High School students were involved.

MILWAUKEE -- One year after a melee broke out during the Bradley Tech High- Bay View High basketball game, a similar crisis was avoided during the Custer High- Bay View High game.

“It was crazy,” said Custer shooting guard Jonathan Cousin. “People running on the court while the game was going on.”

Milwaukee Police didn’t wait for a fight to break out. They moved right in and cleared the gymnasium. All spectators were told to leave. The game was then allowed to continue without an audience.

...No arrests were made Friday night.

People running on the court during the game?

I think police were completely justified in clearing the gym.

Clearly, there were signs that trouble was brewing.

After the brawl last year, MPS chose to "severely limit" the fans able to attend Bay View and Bradley Tech basketball games.

620 WTMJ reported:

MPS Spokeswoman Roseanne St. Aubin says for the foreseeable future, MPS will only give two tickets to each player on the two school's teams. The players are only allowed to give those tickets to their parents or guardians. That would mean there can only be a maximum of 24 fans in the stands for each team when they play. St. Aubin says the restriction won't affect the opposing team for the schools.

Perhaps that policy should be implemented again.

Tom Barrett: Send in the Cops

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett thinks more police officers in more schools is the way to combat the problem of violence.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Mayor Tom Barrett is calling for a dramatic increase in police stationed in Milwaukee Public Schools, from six officers in two high schools to 36 officers in 12 schools, in his 2008 city budget.

Barrett said Wednesday that the officers assigned to the schools from September through May could be shifted into beefed-up neighborhood patrols during the summer.

...City and school officials say this year's pilot program already has improved security for students and teachers at Bradley Tech and Custer high schools. The leader of a school safety task force, however, questioned whether city decisions were based more on politics than on substance.

Barrett and MPS Superintendent William Andrekopoulos will hold a news conference today to announce the plan, part of the budget Barrett will recommend Tuesday to the Common Council.

Andrekopoulos said he's not ready yet to announce publicly which schools will be included in the expansion, but his priority will be large high schools.

Last year, the School Board voted for the first time to bring police officers into the schools regularly. Until then, the schools had relied primarily on unarmed school safety aides who would call in police only when needed to deal with specific incidents.

Although the 230 safety aides remain on the front lines of security in most schools, the experimental program added armed police as "school resource officers," starting in February. The officers spend most of their time on community relations, talking with students and parents, rather than responding to emergencies, Andrekopoulos said.

It would cost $2.2 million to implement the program.

That's a lot of money to be spent on "community relations."

There's no need to put a pretty face on this. Let's be honest. Some Milwaukee public schools are dens of violence, chaos, and crime.

Police are needed on site to maintain order. That's the sorry state of some public schools in the city.

Barrett is pushing the idea of an increased police presence because having officers stationed at Bradley Tech and Custer helped to cut down on calls for police service.

Isn't it obvious that calls would be down if police were already there?

"We have seen a safer learning environment for our students" and increased safety for teachers, as well, Barrett said.

I would hope so.

If having an armed police presence at schools doesn't make them safer, what will?

...Lenard Wells, a former police lieutenant who is leading a community task force looking at safety in MPS, said no city or district leaders had mentioned expanding the police presence to his panel.

"If they have done a thorough evaluation and find it is needed, yes, they should" expand the number of police officers, Wells said.

Yet Wells added that he is continually frustrated that city leaders "are responding to the press; they are not responding to the issues inside the schools."

The mayor is "knee-jerking all the time," Wells said. "That's no way to run the city and not a good way to run the schools."

Wells is right.

Barrett is a knee-jerker.

He's not an effective leader. He's a too little, too late reactor.

Loaded Gun and Drugs at Bradley Tech

Another day, another gun found in a Milwaukee Public School locker.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A 15-year-old boy remains in custody today after school officials at Bradley Tech High School followed up on a tip that allegedly led them to a loaded handgun and marijuana in his locker.

Police were called to the school, 700 S. 4th St., about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers arrested the student on charges of possession with intent to deliver and possession of a dangerous weapon by a child, according to Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz.

Schwartz said there are officers assigned to the school, however, they were at a district station processing another arrest from the school that occurred earlier in the day.

She did not have information immediately available on the nature of the other arrest.

This time the gun was loaded.

About a month ago, an MPS student was arrested after a gun was found in his locker at Pulaski High School.

That one wasn't loaded, and the story didn't get much attention.

Is this latest instance of a student with a gun at a Milwaukee Public School going to be more of a wake up call to the community?

I doubt it.

This is a killer:

Schwartz said there are officers assigned to the school, however, they were at a district station processing another arrest from the school that occurred earlier in the day.

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH COPS AT THE SCHOOL TO HANDLE THE CRIME.

THE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOL WERE ARRESTING SOME OTHER KID.

Unbelievable.

What really bugs me is that Bradley Tech is a state-of-the-art facility and better equipped than many suburban and private schools.

The educational opportunities are there for the taking.

The kids do have a chance.

This 15-year-old with the LOADED gun and drugs is being offered a promising future and he's throwing it away.

What a waste!

Why should tax payers be expected to funnel even more dollars into the schools?

The reality is too many MPS students have NO interest in getting an education.

Very depressing.

Note to Mayor Tom Barrett: Tougher gun laws won't alter that reality.

Hamilton: The Latest Milwaukee High School Brawls

The cell phone ban in the Milwaukee Public Schools may have helped cut back on violence, but it hasn't eliminated the problem altogether.

Let me rephrase that. It hasn't eliminated the problem of violence anywhere near enough.

It seems that students aren't following the rules on cell phones. (There's a shock.)

So the mayhem continues.

Incidents yesterday at a Milwaukee Public School recall a brawl in January at Bradley Tech High School. Thug students were fighting and called thug adults to join them.

MPS policy does not allow cell phones in school settings, but they're everywhere and often backed by parents so the rule is hard to enforce.

"We're overwhelmed by this. We're going to try at Bradley Tech. We sent letters home to the parents," Pochowski told 12 News' Portia Young.

The letters went out last week after a fight at Bradley Tech turned into a brawl because, according to MPS, some girls who were fighting used their phones to call for backup.

Pachowski said cell phone calls invited three carloads of outsiders to the fight.

"For those responsible persons, cell phones are not a problem. It's those irresponsible people, those students who call their family members who then call other family members, and have the audacity to come into a school," Pochowski said.

When the fists stopped flying, six teens and five adults were cited. Now MPS is cracking down on all cell phones, but so far only at Bradley Tech.

It's amazing that fighting thug kids actually call members of their thug families to school to assist, and they show up!

Odds are those same family members don't come to school when there are parent-teacher conferences or other school-related events.

Yesterday, Hamilton High School was the scene of several violent disturbances.

One fight involved a carload of thug adults being called in to serve as reinforcements. Another matter involved a thug parent in search of a particular student, intending to "settle the score."

Hamilton High School in Milwaukee was placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon following a series of fights involving students and adults.

No one was injured in the disturbances, which began around 1 p.m. when an irate parent showed up at the school demanding to see a specific student to "settle the score," said Roseann St. Aubin, Milwaukee Public Schools' spokeswoman.

Police responded to deal with the parent and about the time they arrived, two male students began fighting in an unrelated matter.

About a dozen students joined in the fight, which school safety aides and police were able to break up, St. Aubin said. At that point the school went on lockdown, keeping students in classrooms.

At the same time, a carload of adults arrived at Hamilton and started fighting with students involved in the earlier fight. They may have been summoned by a student's cell phone, St. Aubin said.

Police were still tallying arrest totals but said between six and eight students and two or three adults were in custody.

What utter chaos!

It's extremely troubling that adults are contributing to the problems by participating in the violence, making matters worse.

This practice of high school students calling in adults to join in fights is just so weird. It speaks to how incredibly dysfunctional Milwaukee is.

Is it any wonder that the Milwaukee Public Schools are so out of control? Clearly, the problems run deep, with roots in the community at large.

When it comes to problems with kids at school or outside of school, I often find myself asking, "Where are the parents?"

We know where they are, at least some of them. They're active participants in Milwaukee's thug culture.

What a complete mess!

Now where are those flexible handcuffs?

Cell Phones and Guns in Milwaukee Public Schools

The Milwaukee Public Schools are a mess.

That's a generalization but it's a fair one.

I know there are many excellent, dedicated teachers and staff in MPS serving many students eager to learn and make something of themselves and strive for a promising future. There are success stories.

What they do manage to accomplish is even more impressive given the fact that they are having to struggle with thug students and their thug parents on a daily basis.

Earlier this year, there was an uproar over the decision by MPS to ban cell phones.

MILWAUKEE -- School brawls have gone high tech, with students using cell phones to call in reinforcements — in one case requiring police and pepper spray to break up a fight that swelled to about 20 family members on school grounds.

The fracas earlier this month, in which six students and three adults were arrested, was the latest in a surge of cell phone-related fights and prompted Wisconsin’s largest school district to ban cell phones in its 217 schools beginning Monday.

“We consider (cell phones) almost as weapons because when they call, we’re the ones out in front and we don’t know these people are coming,” said Mike Heese, safety security assistant at Bradley Tech High School, where the fight happened.

Has safety improved since the cell phone ban went into effect?

I'm not sure.

There have been some problems because of the ban. A 15-year-old student assaulted a teacher because she tried the cell phone from the girl.

A teacher at Fritsche Middle School took a phone from the student Tuesday.

The student is accused of then turning on the 53-year-old teacher and punching her in the face 10 times.

The girl has been charged with felony battery to a school district employee, but her mother claims the girl was just defending herself.

"I think she has a problem with people forcefully putting their hands on her when they shouldn't. I mean, they're taught all the time if people are touching you inappropriately, you're supposed to defend yourself or tell someone," the mother said.

The girl's mother said the phone didn't even work.

The teacher is recovering from facial pain and a chipped tooth.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

No matter what rules and regulations are put in place, there will always be those who will ignore them.

For example, take guns.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that MPS students know that guns aren't allowed in school.

I may be going out on a limb, but I assume that's the case.

Today, a student broke the rule.

An 18-year-old student at Pulaski High School was arrested after a gun was found in his locker Thursday, Milwaukee police said today.

The gun was not loaded, said police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz.

She said the boy dropped the gun from his pocket during a class and a school safety officer alerted the police.

The gun wasn't loaded.

I guess that's not so bad.

Never mind. Carry on.

Wimpy Response to Tech-Bay View Brawl

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board has weighed in on the basketball game attendance ban that MPS enacted after the brawl that sent 50 police squads streaming to Bradley Tech High School on Tuesday night.

The Board is on board with the ban, sort of.

How long to prohibit all students at the affected schools from attending games? Andrekopoulos is pondering whether to keep the prohibition in force beyond this week. Mayor Tom Barrett is pushing for a season-long ban. Our advice: As a rule, keep the prohibition in effect for two games per team the first time and for the rest of the season if there's a second time.

With all due respect, I must say that advice is extremely ill-advised.

Does the Board read The JS?

This is an interesting article:

The Milwaukee police sergeant who called for a citywide assist during a post-basketball game melee at Bradley Tech High School described a crowded, chaotic scene where several youths tossed chairs at officers inside the school's gymnasium and others hurled chunks of ice at officers outside the building.

"Officers used a great deal of restraint in an out-of-control situation," 2nd District Sgt. Geoffry Keen said at a news conference at the south side station Thursday afternoon.

Keen said he called for the response after Tuesday night's game because of the large number of people in the gym and his concern that children attending the game might get trampled.

From 56 to 75 officers were sent to the school, 700 S. 4th St., after an overtime victory by Tech over Bay View High School.

During a victory celebration that erupted when fans poured onto the court, several fights broke out in the stands on the Bay View side of the gym and spread to the court, Keen said.

"From there it just escalated," Keen said.

...Officer Cory Harris, who was among about a dozen police officers monitoring the game, said the "pockets" of trouble kept getting larger and larger and officers were getting separated from each other.

...Harris said he fractured an ankle a short time later at a nearby McDonald's, where a fight broke out among youths who went there after the game.

He said he fractured the ankle when he and other officers took down an unruly youth who refused to leave the restaurant.

This was not a minor incident.

Question: What has changed since Tuesday?

What makes the Board members think that a fitting penalty for the brawl would be to prohibit Tech and Bay View students from attending only the next TWO games?

Why would that little slap on the wrist give anyone confidence that the violence is over?

Furthermore, why would the Board recommend that the prohibition should be extended "for the rest of the season if there's a second time"?

"A SECOND TIME"?

That's nuts!

I think a preemptive strategy is in order.

How many broken bones and arrests are the Board willing to tolerate?
Obviously, too many.

There are cases when a second chance is reasonable.

This isn't one of them.

In defense of Tech and Bay View, the editorial points out that violence isn't something exclusive to MPS.

A fight broke out at the Jewish Community Center Saturday night between students at rival Whitefish Bay and Nicolet high schools. Police said several youths sought medical attention, and three were cited for underage drinking.

Give me a break!

Was it necessary for dozens of police officers to respond to break up that fight?

Were FIFTY squads called?

Those details are relevant when determining the need for the prohibition and its length.

I do feel sorry for the Tech and Bay View girls' teams. It's a shame that they're being penalized as well. It's a shame that some of their classmates are thugs, but they are.

I don't believe the ban is "heavy-handed."

I believe that the sort of wimpy two game prohibition that the Editorial Board calls for is why there is such chaos at MPS in the first place.

Discipline and real consequences for the inappropriate, antisocial behavior is the answer.

There's no need to wait for a repeat of Tuesday's brawl to address the violence.

B-Ball Fan Barrett

"I'd rather be watching American Idol."


Last night at the Washington-Rufus King High School basketball game, there wasn't a brawl!

No injuries!

No arrests!

What a proud moment for the Milwaukee Public Schools!

Of course, security was tight.

There were least four uniformed police officers in the gym. Who knows how many were in plain clothes?

There were also as many officers in squads patrolling outside the school.

Another official was at the game -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. No doubt he had plenty of security with him.

Was it a photo-op?

I don't know.

It's was a smart move to get his face on the news and give the appearance that he's engaged in dealing with the crisis.

I think that it may be unfair to accuse Barrett of showing up at Wednesday night's game just to present himself as taking a tough, hands on approach when it comes to the MPS violence problem.

By attending the game, Barrett gave the message that the unacceptable behavior that occurred at the Bradley Tech-Bay View game on Tuesday night will not be tolerated. He's making an effort at showing some leadership. That's good.

I do think he's sincere in wanting to get the public schools under control.

Wanting to do something and being able to achieve it are two totally different things.

Does Barrett intend to make appearances at high school basketball games a priority now?

Is that supposed to be the solution?

It's not a solution.

And where's Governor Jim Doyle? MIA.

I think Milwaukee needs some emergency funds so the police department can establish a special unit to patrol public high school sports.

That won't happen, at least not until Doyle is up for reelection again.

In its coverage, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel balances the bad with the good.

Look! A silver lining!

It's easy to lose track of the good news - and there is good news within every school. Large numbers of kids go to school every day, a lot of them are good kids and some of them are doing well in school. The system is under stresses of many kinds, but it is still functioning.

...There have been major improvements in the last decade in some indicators for MPS, such as graduation rates - although some suggest graduating has become easier.

The JS also points out that Milwaukee isn't alone in its public school struggle.

The 90,000-student MPS system remains the largest single venue for educating children in Wisconsin. It serves a far disproportionate share of Wisconsin's struggling learners, the low-income and minority children who present such intractable challenges to the education system here, as they do elsewhere in America.

Elsewhere in America is irrelevant.

Doyle and Barrett and city leaders aren't dealing with America's schools. They are responsible for managing Milwaukee's crisis situation.

WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT ACADEMICS HERE!

ALL THIS ENERGY IS BEING SPENT ON HANDLING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

It's a mess.

Maybe Barrett should attend some MPS classes as well as basketball games.

Will that help student performance in the classroom?

As for all the whining about students from Bradley Tech and Bay View not being allowed to attend their sporting events, I think it's misdirected.

The student athletes, their families, and the good kids have a right to be disturbed about the restrictions. They should be angry, but not at school officials.

They should be angry at the thugs.

They're responsible for taking away the excitement and fun offered by high school sports. They ruined it.

It's unfortunate that the good people have to suffer, but actions have consequences.

Do you think the thugs feel guilty?

No way.

Bradley Tech-Bay View Brawl

Picture this:

An overtime victory by Bradley Tech over the visiting Bay View High School basketball team Tuesday night sent hundreds of fans onto the court, sparking a disturbance that injured four police officers and two students and led to at least 10 arrests, officials said.

A female spectator suffered a seizure at the height of the disturbance and required medical attention at the scene, Milwaukee Public Schools spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said.

Dozens of Milwaukee police officers from all parts of the city were dispatched to the school, 700 S. 4th St., about 9:30 p.m. after the end of the game, in which the Tech Trojans defeated the Bay View Redcats, 82-81.

Lt. Alfonso Morales of the Milwaukee Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau said four police officers and two female students, one of whom had the seizure, suffered minor injuries.

The disturbance "was the result of fans rushing the court to celebrate and students from Bay View not being too happy about that," Morales said.

"Tech won the game, and then some kids from Bay View jumped a Tech kid," said Myisha Milton, a Bradley Tech ninth-grader.

The Police Department issued an all-city call upon hearing reports of the disturbance, resulting in a widespread police response, Morales said.

"There were 1,100 tickets sold for this game . . . that's a lot of people in one area to contain," Morales said.

The citywide call for police support was issued in response to the report that a student was having a seizure, making emergency medical response difficult in the midst of the large game crowd, said police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz.

An all-city call?

Does that seem a bit extreme?

I suppose given the recent history at Bradley Tech it might seem reasonable.

This January, the school has seen instances of violence, police calls, and arrests. Fights have included parents. Yes, kids call their parents and they join in.

Bradley Tech is in a state of meltdown.

But a city-wide call that sends Fifty squads to the school?

Whenever there's a medical emergency in the midst of a large crowd, is there an all-city call?

All those police sent to tend to the unruly high school basketball game crowd were taken off the crime-ridden streets of Milwaukee.

The violent outburst at this Milwaukee Public School was given the priority of...of what?

A terrorist attack?

The fact that these MPS students are utterly out of control is putting all Milwaukee residents, and anyone visiting the city, at risk.

Milwaukee's police force is stretched so thin to begin with. At least that's what the incompetent Mayor Tom Barrett and November retiree Police Chief Nan Hegerty say; yet this fight was deemed to be so explosive that a city-wide call was considered necessary.

Two police suffered broken bones at the brawl.

That's two more cops off the streets for a while.

MPS, violence, crime.

The city is in CRISIS.

What's being done about it?

For one, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has relegated its account of the event to page B7.

I guess such a major story isn't worthy of front page status in the main section.

If an incident like that doesn't rate such prominence, what would?

As far as a strategy to crack down on the violence in Milwaukee public schools, students can no longer carry cell phones.

Yeah, that'll get things under control.

I think the most frightening thing about this mess is that these violent students will soon be out of school to take their place among Milwaukee's violent residents.

Wonderful. What a bright future is on the horizon for Milwaukee!

It's a crisis.

The city is dying.
__________________

Watch video of the brawl here.
__________________

UPDATE:

MPS has a solution!

The Milwaukee Public School System says it's planning to severely limit the amount of fans who can attend Bradley Tech and Bay View High School basketball games. The move follows a brawl that broke out after a game between the schools at Bradley Tech High School.

MPS Spokeswoman Roseanne St. Aubin says for the foreseeable future, MPS will only give two tickets to each player on the two school's teams. The players are only allowed to give those tickets to their parents or guardians. That would mean there can only be a maximum of 24 fans in the stands for each team when they play. St. Aubin says the restriction won't affect the opposing team for the schools.

That should help take care of the violence at Bradley Tech and Bay View basketball games.

Of course, you never know about the 24 fans. They could band together and start a disturbance; but it wouldn't take a call for ALL the city's police resources to respond. (If you can't tell, I'm being facetious.)

I do think that more will need to be done than just restricting who gets into the gym for games.

Most likely, there will be a lot of Tech and Bay View students going to the games. They'll just be hanging around OUTSIDE.

The potential for problems still exists because the thugs still exist.

What this policy does is move the problem to a different location. It doesn't solve it.

It's not really a solution at all.

Still a crisis.