Ed Flynn Retires

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn is retiring after ten years serving the city.

MPD Chief Edward A. Flynn announces his retirement from the Milwaukee Police Department this afternoon. Chief Flynn has served as the Department’s Chief since January 2008. Thank you Chief for your service to this City! pic.twitter.com/dAYGzQsiID

— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) January 8, 2018

You can watch the entire news conference of Chief Flynn's announcement at the link below on MPD's YouTube page. https://t.co/0obrbUbjDU

— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) January 8, 2018

______________________


Wow. This is a really cheap shot.

One thing that went unsaid during retiring MKE Police Chief Ed Flynn's lengthy summary of his 10 years here: https://t.co/SZd7Cpq2FC

— Daniel Bice (@DanielBice) January 8, 2018

The fact that Dan Bice would dredge up this one does not reflect well on him.

Milwaukee: Deadliest August in 25 Years

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn announced that Milwaukee saw its deadliest August since 1991.

Twenty-five years ago, the discovery of Jeffry Dahmer's crimes caused the murder toll to spike in the city.

From WISN-TV:

Milwaukee police said the city hasn't had this many homicides since July 1991, when bodies were found in Jeffrey Dahmer's apartment.

There were 24 homicides in Milwaukee in August, and there have been 93 total so far this year.

The Police Department said that Milwaukee's per-capita homicide rate was significantly higher than the homicide rate of the city of Chicago.

"It is homicidal violent crime that is most significantly affecting our disadvantaged neighborhoods of color," Police Chief Ed Flynn said at an afternoon news conference. "In the month of August, 83 percent of our homicide victims were African-Americans, and 83 percent of described assailants were African-Americans. And against this backdrop, the police department still seized over 200 firearms."

I didn't realize that the Milwaukee murder rate for August is significantly higher than the murder rate in Chicago. That's extremely disturbing.

We keep hearing about the bloody summer south of our border. The violence in Chicago is a national story. Even though the violence in Milwaukee doesn't get the attention Chicago does, the lawlessness is actually worse. At least, that was the case in August.

It's worth noting that 83 percent of the Milwaukee "homicide victims were African-Americans, and 83 percent of the described assailants were African-Americans."

That runs counter to the narrative being sold by anti-police activists and the Leftist media.

Hey, journalists! Get Black Lives Matter to comment. Get Colin Kaepernick with his 'Police are pigs' socks to comment.

Also, it's worth noting that Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is a Democrat. He was just reelected.

Milwaukee needs new leadership, desperately.

Milwaukee: Relatively Quiet Night

Chief Flynn and @MayorOfMKE with update. 6 arrests made tonight. No reports of major property damage. pic.twitter.com/iVvjSi9QCP

— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) August 16, 2016

Carl Barrett, Arlis Gordon, and Paul Farr Arrested

Good news!

It took almost a year, but finally, it appears that justice will be served in the death of five-year-old Laylah Petersen.

Three individuals have been arrested.


Carl Barrett, Arlis Gordon, Paul Farr

From FOX6 News:

Laylah Petersen would have turned six years old on September 23rd. But her young life was cut short when she was shot and killed by a stray bullet while she was sitting on her grandfather's lap inside a home near 58th and Fairmount on November 6, 2014.

Petersen died at the hospital, as a result of two gunshot wounds to her head. Her death was ruled a homicide.

...The three people charged in this case are: 24-year-old Paul Farr, 20-year-old Carl Barrett and 23-year-old Arlis Gordon. Police say Farr and Barrett were arrested on October 14th in Milwaukee. Gordon was arrested in suburban Chicago on October 17th on unrelated charges.

Farr has been charged with two counts of Harboring/Aiding a Felon. Barrett and Gordon have both been charged with First Degree Reckless Homicide–Party to a Crime.

"They shot the wrong house."

No house would have been the right house.

Michael Hobbs and the Cut Throat Mob

Michael Hobbs is 18 years old, and charged with second-degree reckless homicide, hit-and-run resulting in death, and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent.


Michael E. Hobbs

Just 18, Hobbs was already convicted for "taking a vehicle without consent," but got off with a stayed sentence.

He got away with his crimes, did it again, and killed a married couple on a Sunday afternoon.

From FOX6 News:

The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office charged 18-year-old Michael Hobbs on Thursday, February 26th with multiple criminal counts in connection with a fatal crash that happened near 84th and Wilbur on Sunday, February 22nd.

Hobbs is charged with the following: two (2) counts of second-degree reckless homicide, two (2) counts of hit-and-run resulting in death and one (1) count of operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Hobbs made his initial appearance in court on Thursday. He has pleaded not guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, Hobbs admitted to stealing an SUV from an alley near 33rd and National in Milwaukee. The vehicle had been reported stolen on February 19th.

On Sunday, February 22nd, Hobbs said he and a group of people “stopped at Walmart and smoked marijuana before proceeding to 89th and Wilbur to pick up a friend.” Hobbs indicated that Wilbur “looked like a speed spot and he started speeding for fun. When he approached 84th Street, one of the passengers noted that 84th Street was busy so he slowed down.”

After picking up a friend, the complaint says Hobbs drove the SUV back towards 84th Street and sped up again. Data from the vehicle’s airbag control module says the SUV reached a speed of 78 miles-per-hour before Hobbs went through the intersection of 84th and Wilbur without stopping — and slammed into another car. 74-year-old Bernard Hanson and 64-year-old Mary Hanson were inside that vehicle. They died at the scene of the crash.

Hobbs told police he remembers hitting a red car, and then climbing out the window. He then took off running, according to the complaint.

Horrific.

Is there any question that Hobbs is a danger to society?

No. None.

His criminal behavior resulted in the deaths of two people.



From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

An 18-year-old Milwaukee man — on probation for driving a stolen truck last summer — sped up to 80 mph in a stolen SUV before causing a hit-and-run crash that killed a husband and wife, according to a criminal complaint.

Michael E. Hobbs was charged Thursday with two counts of second-degree reckless homicide, two counts of hit-and-run causing death and operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent. His bail was set at $100,000.

The crash occurred at 2:15 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of S. 84th St. and W. Wilbur Ave. when a stolen Chevy Tahoe with several occupants sped past a stop sign and collided with a car on W. Wilbur Ave., according to Milwaukee police.

After the initial crash, the SUV and the car continued eastbound and collided with a third vehicle before coming to a stop. The driver and passenger of the car died in the crash. They were identified by police as Bernard A. Hanson, 74, and his wife, Mary C. Hanson, 64, both of Milwaukee. The couple was killed about a block away from their home.

The driver in the third vehicle, a 66-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries, and her 14-year-old grandson, who was a passenger, was not injured.

The dead victims were just a block away from their home, out driving on a Sunday afternoon.

These innocent people died because Hobbs, after smoking pot, was barreling through an intersection in a stolen Tahoe at nearly eighty miles an hour!

THE LIVES OF BERNARD AND MARY HANSON MATTER!

More from the Journal Sentinel:

Last August, Hobbs was accused of stealing a pickup truck in West Allis. The owner told police his ignition key was in the truck.

Hobbs pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without an owner's consent. In January, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Timothy Witkowiak sentenced him to nine months in jail, but then stayed the sentence and placed him on one year of probation instead.

Hobbs continued to catch the attention of police.

About two weeks ago, a man reported his teal Dodge Caravan was stolen from Milwaukee's south side. Later that same day, two Milwaukee police officers ran the license plate of a teal van at a gas station and confirmed it was the stolen vehicle.

Two men had already left the van and gone into the gas station's store, so officers approached a woman in the van. She told police she had asked for a ride from work to the mall and her friend, "Sammie," picked her up. She offered to pay for gas. When an officer went into the store, the clerk said the two men slipped out the door when officers were checking the van.

Another officer came to help review gas station surveillance footage. He recognized the two men who left the van as Hobbs and Victor S. Perez, both of whom the officer knew as members of the "Cut Throat Mob," described as a vehicle theft group in a criminal complaint.

Hobbs was charged Feb. 16 with operating a vehicle without the owner's consent, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Less than a week later, prosecutors say, Hobbs was behind the wheel of a stolen SUV and caused a crash that killed two people.

Hobbs, a convicted thug, was allowed by the judicial system and the police to continue to break the law, and kill two people.

MPD officers contacted Mark Belling, pointing out that they are not allowed to pursue stolen vehicles unless they've been involved in a "recent" crime, no chase.

Clearly, this Ed Flynn policy is disastrous.

The word is out. Thugs know they can steal cars with impunity. Thieves have no fear of police because they know they won't be chased by authorities.

A policy that permits this lawlessness and ties the hands of the police is utterly unacceptable.

How many more people will be killed before this policy is changed?

Mayor Tom Barrett should hold a high-profile news conference to express his outrage over the vehicle theft epidemic and its consequences -- the deaths of innocent citizens. (If he already did, I missed it.)

It's crazy to have a policy that promotes crime and emboldens the thugs.

Yes, that's crazy.

The police are being kept from protecting life and property in Milwaukee.

Crazy.
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UPDATE: Ed Flynn, with Tom Barrett at his side, addressed the car thefts.

Drivers urged not to leave cars running after fatal crash involving stolen SUV

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said Sunday that police would continue to focus on repeat auto theft offenders and which types of cars are most often stolen. But with thieves targeting cars with keys left in the ignitions, "the community has an important part to play, as well," he said.

"And one part is, do not make it so easy for criminal offenders to steal your car. The consequences, literally — as we saw here just last Sunday — can be deadly," Flynn told reporters at S. 84th St. and W. Wilbur Ave., where a husband and wife were killed a week earlier in a hit-and-run crash.

...One day last week, 22 cars were reported stolen to Milwaukee police and 20 had the keys left in them, Flynn said Sunday, joined by Mayor Tom Barrett.

Flynn also called for tough consequences for auto thieves, especially more lock-ups for repeat juvenile offenders.

"We can keep making the arrests. But this behavior is going to continue until there are sanctions, and there simply must be secure placement facilities for high-rate offenders," Flynn said.

The message:

1. Don't leave your car running and unattended.

2. There needs to be "sanctions" and "secure placement facilities for high-rate offenders."

According to this Journal Sentinel article, it appears the MPD policy of not pursuing stolen vehicles was not addressed in this meeting with reporters.

That's an important part of the story that must be addressed.

Obama and Ferguson: Issue For America

Obama says that being angry with the grand jury's decision in Ferguson is an understandable reaction.

OBAMA: There are Americans who agree with it, and there are Americans who are deeply disappointed, even angry. It’s an understandable reaction. But I join Michael’s parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully.

Wow.

What a powerful statement! Protest peacefully. What a leader!

Instead of leading from behind, Obama should have clearly stated that gunshots and arson and looting are totally unacceptable and illegal responses to a grand jury decision. He should have said that anyone engaging in such thuggery will be arrested for their crimes.

Obama is spitting in the faces of the members of the grand jury. He's saying they arrived at the wrong decision. He's saying our judicial system failed. Obama is stoking the violence, not quelling it. Anger at the grand jury and the American system is understandable in this case. Yeah, that will help to keep the peace.

It's not surprising that Obama's suggestion that people behave was disregarded.

Rather than heeding his call, they're telling him to shut the f--- up.

Obama's call for police to behave was particularly offensive.

OBAMA: I also appeal to the law enforcement officials in Ferguson and the region to show care and restraint in managing peaceful protests that may occur. Understand, our police officers put their lives on the line for us every single day. They’ve got a tough job to do to maintain public safety and hold accountable those who break the law. As they do their jobs in the coming days, they need to work with the community, not against the community, to distinguish the handful of people who may use the grand jury’s decision as an excuse for violence -- distinguish them from the vast majority who just want their voices heard around legitimate issues in terms of how communities and law enforcement interact.

Do most police officers in America work "against the community"? Is it really necessary for Obama to tell police to behave?

Not good.

"This is not just an issue for #Ferguson. This is an issue for America." —President Obama: http://t.co/6bWKyIJFFD pic.twitter.com/JZ26fetEpb

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 25, 2014

I agree. It is an issue for America.

I guess the culture of victimhood and the promotion of dependence and helplessness doesn't work out so well, not in Ferguson and not in America.

Here's an idea: OBEY THE LAW. Act responsibly. Work WITH police to improve neighborhoods. Support and elect public officials interested in growing the economy and creating jobs rather than supporting politicians interested in creating dependence on government handouts.

Personal responsibility: What a concept!

Ed Flynn: Send Him To Ferguson

As the nation braces for the violence we've been told is guaranteed to erupt in Ferguson, and perhaps around the country, The Right Scoop takes note of comments made by Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn on November 6.

From The Right Scoop:

HOLY CRAP: SEND THIS POLICE CHIEF TO FERGUSON BECAUSE THIS IS THE TRUTH THEY NEED TO HEAR!

Man oh man this is awesome. Police Chief Edward Flynn spoke to reporters on November 6 after a Fire and Police Commission meeting concerning the shooting of Dontre Hamilton. And he doesn’t hold back with the brazen truth about people who care more about a black teen shot by a cop than they do about all the violent crimes against blacks in Milwaukee, something he says is the true threat to the racial disparity.

It's about reality.

Too bad so many leaders, locally and nationally and in the Oval Office, don't have the guts to talk about reality.

Ed Flynn and a Five-Year-Old Milwaukee Girl Shot, Killed

In Milwaukee yesterday evening, A five-year-old little girl was shot and killed.

From WISN:

Milwaukee police said a 5-year-old girl who was shot in the head near 58th Street and Fairmount Avenue about 6:20 p.m. Thursday has died.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said two young children were watching television on the couch with their grandparents when bullets came through the window.

Flynn said they've had no calls to the home, and he has no idea why two people would walk up to the home and open fire.

“There is no reason conceivable that I can think of that would explain this violent remorseless act. I have no idea what was in the minds of these actors. What I do know is that we're going to find them. We're going to arrest them, and they're going to go to jail,” he said.

..."This wasn't even a shootout between two idiots. This was a targeted shooting at this house, for reasons yet unknown," Flynn said.

My God.

Why this house?

That is yet to be determined. There are a lot of unanswered questions, but we know a five-year-old was killed.

I wonder if her killers feel a little bad about it. Are they proud of themselves? Do they care at all? Are they so without feeling, soulless, that they can shrug something like this off?

I think so. You don't open fire on a house like that if you have any concern for innocent human life.

The shooters are evil.

Are the same people who are staging protest after protest, and recognizing the monthly anniversaries of the shooting of Dontre Hamilton going to put the same energy into expressing their outrage over this innocent little girl's murder?

Highly unlikely.

Look at video of a meeting on Thursday about the Dontre Hamilton shooting.

From TMJ4:

Both Dontre Hamilton supporters and Milwaukee police officers showed up to a Fire and Police Commission meeting Thursday night, and shouts erupted.

Chief Ed Flynn was under attack from two opposing groups. The police union is upset with him for firing Christopher Manney, the officer who shot and killed Dontre Hamilton.

Hamilton supporters are upset the officer has not been arrested and charged. All of this erupted inside the Fire and Police Commission meeting - where the chief had learned a five year old had been shot.

...They blasted Chief Flynn and fired Officer Christopher Manney.

...It went on for minutes with the Fire and Police Commission trying to bring control to the chaos.

And one point the crowd started yelling at Chief Flynn for looking at his cell phone until he explained he was getting updates about a five year old who had been shot.

"I'm sorry if you find it offensive," said Flynn, 'I'm keeping up with the developments of the shooting of a five year old."

What a mess!

Clearly, firing Christopher Manney didn't pacify the Hamilton supporters. They're screaming at Flynn. Because of his decision, he's underfire from his officers as well.

The idea that firing Manney would be a good solution to the case has been shown to be a terrible one.

And while all this yelling is going on, Flynn is taking updates on the shooting of a five-year-old in her home.

I wonder how Flynn managed to keep it together. That had to be extremely difficult.

Flynn was angry with the people yelling at him for being on his phone during the meeting, and rightly so.

"The fact is that the people out here, some of them who had the most to say, are absolutely MIA when it comes to the true threats facing this community and it gets a little tiresome. And when you start getting yelled at for reading the updates of the kid that got shot. Yeah, you take it personal!"

I want to see protests organized by members of the community calling for an end to the sort violence that resulted in the murder of that little girl. I want to see them COOPERATE with police to get these thugs locked up and off the streets.

That, of course, is not going to happen. As Flynn said, they are MIA.

The focus on getting Manney while the murderers of children are ignored reveals a very disturbing tunnel vision on the part of the Hamilton supporters.

So will Tom Barrett stage one of his "I'm outraged" events?

I suppose.

And the people will keep demanding "justice" for Dontre Hamilton, and the officers will continue to be angry with Flynn, and more little ones will lose their lives because thugs are allowed to terrorize neighborhoods in part because people in the community refuse to cooperate with police.

Seems hopeless, doesn't it?

Once upon a time, parents actually behaved responsibly and made an effort to raise their children not to be thugs.

Ed Flynn: 99.3% NO CONFIDENCE

The results are in.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn received a no confidence vote of 99.3% from members of the Milwaukee Police Association.

Usually, the media give a lot of weight to actions by unions. In this case, however, there seems to be an effort to minimize the significance of the vote.

No surprise there, I suppose.

Video, from FOX6 News:

In a news conference Friday morning, the police union would not announce how many officers voted. But officials says it was a majority of the force. Union President Mike Crivello said many officers were too afraid of retribution to cast their ballots.

“We all know a ‘no confidence’ vote is not binding. But there absolutely is an expectation that the mayor’s office would take great notice, the Common Council, certainly the public safety committee and more so than anybody, the Fire and Police Commission would take notice that such a large majority of the force does not have confidence in their leadership,” said Crivello.

Former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist gave his support to Flynn.

From 620WTMJ:

A no-confidence vote of Police Chief Edward Flynn is a 'badge of honor' for the chief, according to a former Milwaukee mayor.

"You want a chief that has enough courage, and stands up for what he/she believes in," John Norquist told Newsradio 620 WTMJ. "I don't think it's a poor reflection on Ed Flynn. I think Flynn is better than any police chief I ever appointed."

I don't remember the last time Norquist publicly commented on Milwaukee politics. Who cares what he thinks? Not me.

Tom Barrett reacted to the vote in typical Barrett fashion.

“This tactic by the leadership of the Milwaukee Police Association is not surprising. At a time when the citizens of Milwaukee are dealing with the aftermath of the Red Arrow Park shooting, the MPA leadership is trying to stoke a political fire. The brave men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department and the citizens of the Milwaukee deserve better. I have complete confidence in Police Chief Flynn and the hard-working members of the rank and file.”

Blame the MPA leadership.

This is a political matter, but I don't think it's necessarily politically motivated.

Isn't it possible that Milwaukee police officers aren't satisfied with Flynn's leadership?

Something may have political ramifications but that doesn't mean it's automatically nothing more than a political stunt.

If I had been able to cast a vote, I definitely would have voted no confidence in Flynn.

He's really changed. It's as if he's giving up.

Ed Flynn - A Different Man

Have you heard the audio of the discussion that took place last Friday between Charlie Sykes and Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn?

I think it's the clearest indication yet that Ed Flynn has a political agenda. He's a political figure now. He's on Tom Barrett's team, spewing Leftist drivel.

It could be that Flynn is spending too much time reading the Penzeys catalog.

He's different.

Back in November 2007, Sykes interviewed Flynn. He was about to become Milwaukee's next police chief, replacing Nan Hegerty.

It's interesting to go back and revisit that first impression of Flynn.

He was the "broken windows theory" guy. He was going to employ the approach that Rudy Giuliani used to transform New York City.

At the time, I commented:

While Flynn was very well-spoken during the interview with Sykes, he sort of reminded me of a student very well-prepared to take a criminology exam, as if he had all the right things memorized and ready to spit back during the test.

What Flynn says doesn't matter. It gets down to Flynn being able to translate theory into action, talk into results.

Milwaukee is overrun with "broken windows."

It's going to take a lot of glass and putty to turn the city around.

Flynn sounds like the man to do it.

Turns out, Flynn wasn't the man to do it.

Of course, Flynn has been limited by the resources available to him. You go to war with the army you have. In his defense, that needs to be considered.

But if you listen to the 2014 Flynn, you get political sniping and complaining rather than a plan of action.

He doesn't even bother with his "broken windows theory" rhetoric anymore. He tossed that out the window long ago.

Now, we get excuses about poverty in the city and lame statements pitting suburbanites against city residents. In short, we're getting Bill Penzey crap from Flynn.

Flynn seems to have decided it's necessary to go into CYA mode and echo Barrett's Leftist lingo.

It's the language of impotency.

Sierra Guyton Shooting: Second Suspect Killed Teen in 2003

When will Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Ed Flynn hold a news conference to express their outrage over the fact that both suspects in the shooting of Sierra Guyton were given a pass by the criminal justice system?

Never. They're too busy trying to blame Scott Walker and state politicians in Madison.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The second man arrested in connection with the shooting of a 10-year-old Milwaukee girl was convicted in a killing more than a decade ago, just a block from the playground where the girl was wounded.

The man is believed to be the person who drew a gun and then came under fire from another man, Sylvester Lewis, in a shooting that left third-grader Sierra Guyton caught in the cross-fire May 21 while she was on the playground of her school at N. 28th and W. Clarke streets.

...The Journal Sentinel has obtained the identity of the second suspect, but authorities have requested the man's name be withheld as the investigation continues. His case had not been referred to the Milwaukee County district attorney's office as of Thursday morning.

The second suspect, a 28-year-old Milwaukee man, was arrested about 2 p.m. Wednesday at a state probation and parole office in Milwaukee.

In 2005, he pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless homicide. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison — with credit for 900 days, or nearly 2 1/2 years, for time served — meaning he likely would have been released from prison in early 2013. He also was sentenced to eight years of extended supervision.

The man initially had been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in a fatal shooting that occurred in the 2500 block of N. 28th St. about 1 a.m. May 17, 2003. The 17-year-old male victim was treated at Froedtert Hospital for two gunshot wounds to the head and died two days later from his injuries.

According to the 2003 criminal complaint:

The man, then 17, told police he paid the victim $25 to borrow a handgun about two days before the shooting. The victim provided a .32-caliber gun, and the next day, he asked for the firearm to be returned after he heard gunshots in the neighborhood. The man told the victim he wasn't done using it.

The next day, the victim demanded the gun back and the man told police he saw the victim reach into his pocket and pull a gun. The man said he drew his gun at the same time and then fired four shots at the victim.

Prosecutors later filed an amended complaint charging the man with second-degree reckless homicide, which carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and 10 years on extended supervision.

Extended supervision may make Leftist hearts happy, but it's not working out when it comes to keeping the community safe.

Clearly, the 28-year-old suspect was not rehabilitated while in prison for his role in the shooting of the 17-year-old in 2003.

When a system is broken, and this one is, it's time to fix it.

When will a march protesting the inexcusable failings by our criminal justice system, allowing thugs to be put back on the streets, be organized?

Probably when Tom Barrett and Ed Flynn express their outrage over the bleeding heart Leftists' sentencing practices.

Never.

Sylvester Lewis: Black Privilege

Again and again, Sylvester Lewis proved that he posed a serious threat to society; and he wasn't punished properly for it.

There's a push in Milwaukee to stop incarcerating black males. That's a problem when a black male should be incarcerated but is given a pass instead.

From FOX6 News:

18-year-old Sylvester Lewis is one of two suspects in custody in connection with the shooting of 10-year-old Sierra Guyton. Guyton was shot and seriously injured as she played on a playground near 28th and Clarke on May 21st. She was just feet from her home. When Lewis was arrested, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said he is a convicted felon — who has been arrested 15 times in his young life. FOX6 News has researched Lewis’ lengthy juvenile criminal record — included in a thick case file.

Each of the case files relating to Lewis’ juvenile criminal record are about two inches thick — and detail a number of crimes.

Lewis’ criminal record began when he was about 12 years old — and police say he’s been arrested 15 times since then.

Lewis’ criminal history is something that angered Chief Flynn when Lewis was taken into custody yet again — accused in the playground shooting that seriously injured a young girl.

“He is a convicted felon already — at the age of 18,” Chief Flynn said.

In Lewis’ juvenile case files, charges range from robbery to auto theft.

In 2008, records indicate Lewis was charged with battery and disorderly conduct.

A year later, while at a Milwaukee-area middle school, Lewis allegedly threatened to get a gun and kill his teacher.

He allegedly told school officials he was a member of the gang “Murda Mobb” — and had access to plenty of guns.

According to documents, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections ordered Lewis be sent to “Lincoln Hills School” — a juvenile detention facility, for at least 11 months.

Hand-written notes describe Lewis as being “very defiant.” Staff members also comment that “he’s angry about something, but won’t talk about it.”

In September of 2012, Lewis was charged as an adult for a burglary case that occurred just a few houses away from the playground where Guyton was shot.

According to a criminal complaint, Lewis forced his way through the home’s metal security door.

A resident inside recognized Lewis from the neighborhood.

Lewis allegedly told her: “Don’t go telling your mom that I robbed your house, because I didn’t. The door was unlocked.”

Initially, Lewis pleaded not guilty to the crime, but later entered into a plea deal. He was ordered to spend a year in jail with credit for time already served during the court proceedings.

The court stayed the sentence — and Lewis was placed on probation for three years.

As part of his probation, Lewis was ordered to finish high school and take a mental health assessment.

The judge also wanted Lewis to find a job, and take all prescribed medications.

In the case involving the shooting of Guyton, Lewis faces three charges, including: one count of first-degree reckless injury (use of a dangerous weapon), one count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety (use of a dangerous weapon), and possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to the criminal complaint, Lewis and another individual were shooting at each other, when the child was caught in the crossfire — and shot.

Milwaukee police on Wednesday, May 28th announced the arrest of the second suspect in this case.

He is a 28-year-old Milwaukee man — and he will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for charges.

Good grief!

Should we be surprised that Lewis didn't follow the judge's orders?

No. We should be surprised if he had.

Here's the reality:

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett sound positively buffoonish when they dump on Governor Scott Walker and the state Legislature, accusing them of being responsible for the violence perpetrated by the likes of Sylvester Lewis.

Why was Lewis allowed to walk after 15 arrests? Why was he given that privilege?

This convicted felon was in possession of a firearm.

But, but, but... if there were more laws....

Guns are inanimate objects. They don't commit crimes. They don't shoot little girls. They don't do anything. They can't.

As Barrett and Flynn huff and puff and pass the buck and complain about Governor Walker and politicians in Madison, they appear incredibly weak and whiny and incompetent. The fact is current laws are not being enforced. The court will stay the sentence, allowing a dangerous sociopath like Lewis to commit more crimes, putting innocents like Sierra Guyton in harm's way.

Yeah, but we can't have so many black males incarcerated. That's not right.

Huh?

Skin color should have nothing to do with whether or not a thug is incarcerated. Justice should be blind, no white privilege, no black privilege, no privilege of any sort.

Get the thugs off the street. Punish them when they commit crimes. Don't turn them loose, putting the public at risk.

It appears Lewis won't be engaging in gunfire for a while. It's truly tragic that it took the shooting of little Sierra Guyton for that to happen.

___________________

Read a previous post about the Murda Mobb.

Girl, 10, Shot on Milwaukee Playground, Flynn and Barrett Angry

More gun violence in Milwaukee...

From FOX6 News:

Milwaukee police say an 10-year-old girl was shot while on a playground on Wednesday evening, May 21st — near N. 28th Street and Clarke Street in Milwaukee.

The shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. — on the playground of the Clarke Street School.

Police say their preliminary investigation indicates two individuals were shooting at each other, when the child was caught in the crossfire — and shot.

...FOX6 News spoke with a woman who says she’s the young girl’s aunt. That woman told FOX6 News the girl was shot in the head, the leg, and the knee — and was in surgery Wednesday night at Children’s.

There have been so many shootings in Milwaukee recently.

Kids are being shot.

The thugs doing the shooting obviously don't care.

It seems some in Milwaukee were never taught right from wrong; or if they were taught, they've rejected that teaching, choosing to behave in a criminal fashion.

It's hard to maintain order when members of society have no respect for the law.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn was angry when he spoke to the press. Not Obama VA scandal angry. Flynn seemed genuinely angry.

“Tonight, two so-called young men felt the need to engage in a shootout without any regard for the lives of children playing nearby,” Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said at the scene on Wednesday evening.

...“Sooner or later people enough gotta be enough! It`s not enough to complain about our tactics. It`s not enough to tell us we`re putting too many people in jail. We need you — the community, to help us solve this crime and to tell your young men to put the guns down!” Chief Flynn said.

...“I need the same Governor and the same state Legislature that found money to help us expand our ShotSpotter, the ShotSpotter that directed us to this location — to pass a law that makes these little monsters afraid to get locked up for possessing a gun. I need felony time for a felony crime of illegally carrying a firearm,” Chief Flynn said.

Milwaukee's mayor, Tom Barrett was also angry.

Mayor Barrett issued the following statement on this shooting:

“The thugs who thought nothing of having a gunfight on a playground need to be locked up for a very, very long time. Right now these gunslingers believe that there are no consequences to walking the streets armed and shooting whenever the mood strikes them. It’s time for the Governor and Legislature to go into special session and pass mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes and to come down hard on those who value life so little.”

Yes, enough is enough.

The dysfunctional Milwaukee community needs to take responsibility and start demanding that its members behave responsibly.

As Flynn says, "We need you — the community, to help us solve this crime and to tell your young men to put the guns down!"

That doesn't happen, certainly not enough if it does happen.

If a friend or family member of mine was engaged in this sort of criminal behavior, I wouldn't ignore it. I would cooperate with police. I would turn him in. If I didn't, I would have blood on my hands. I would do what's right, and not enable a thug.

Something like a march for peace on the streets is nice, but it's ineffective. Symbolic gestures like that aren't keeping kids from getting shot.

Unfortunately, both Flynn and Barrett continue to blame Governor Walker and the state Legislature for the violence.

Their fingerpointing is off the mark. Some of their anger is misdirected.

The thugs are engaging in criminal behavior. They are breaking laws, but Flynn and Barrett say the solution is to have tougher laws. In other words, what we have now allows innocent children to be shot.

Note to Flynn and Barrett: These animals will break new laws, too.

According to Flynn and Barrett, Governor Walker and the Legislature are to blame. None of this bloodshed would be happening if they weren't dropping the ball.

That, of course, is ridiculous.

It would be great if simply passing a law would make this all stop, but it won't.

Let's be honest. The real problem is the destruction of intact families, an outgrowth of the failed War on Poverty. We now are seeing the fruits of a failed experiment that created generations of dysfunction.

The family has a purpose in the functioning of society. The family unit provides social structure. It upholds social order.

Without stable families, we get thugs and 10-year-old little girls get shot playing at a playground in daylight.

This shouldn't be politicized. Thugs running amok shouldn't be exploited to attack Walker and Republicans.

Blame the thugs, not guns and certainly not Walker. Be angry at the thugs, not the Legislature. Hold the thugs accountable for breaking the law. Be angry at a judicial system that fails to lock up the thugs and protect law-abiding men, women, and children.

The fact is there are too many bad people in Milwaukee choosing to do bad things. And, there are way too many people in Milwaukee enabling these bad people, the thugs, by being unwilling to turn them in to police.

No more excuses. Hold people accountable.

If someone gave me a gun, I would never choose to use it in a criminal manner. I wouldn't shoot an 10-year-old girl while she played. No innocent person would get caught in crossfire because there wouldn't be any crossfire. That would never happen. Never.

Why?

I'm not a thug. I know the difference between right and wrong, and I choose to do what's right.

Laws do not stop me from behaving badly. My conscience does.
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Video of Ed Flynn and Tom Barrett:

Chief Ed Flynn: Murder Charges Not Motive

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn called Charlie Sykes' radio program this morning, to address issues related to the assault and double shooting that resulted in the deaths of two individuals.

Flynn said it would violate the law for him to say whether or not the victim, the maintenance man, had a valid concealed carry permit. That's why he didn't share that information with the public. Flynn sort of mocked concealed carry permit proponents, saying the ones so interested in the law aren't interested in following that aspect of it.

I have to admit I really never paid attention to the source of information on crime cases, in terms of the legal or illegal possession of a weapon. However, it seems to me that we often hear about an individual committing an alleged crime with a stolen gun or a gun illegally obtained.

As far as the charges in the double shooting case, Flynn said there is probable cause for the arrest of the maintenance man. Flynn said the charges, first degree intentional homicide, don't deal with motive. In other words, there is no judgment based on self-defense when it comes to the charges. The maintenance fired the gun that killed two people. Even though Flynn said during his Wednesday news conference that the maintenance man was apparently acting to defend himself, he said self-defense is not a "get out of jail free card."

Another thing that Flynn told listeners was that the maintenance man, on advice from counsel, was not speaking to police. Of course, on Wednesday, Flynn said the maintenance man was cooperating with police. According to Flynn today, the man never provided an official statement. He has not been interviewed. That's news to me.

Flynn's remarks about the charges and motive prompted me to think about all the co-sleeping deaths in Milwaukee.

Since motive isn't a factor when it comes to charges, I would think all the parents/caregivers who smother a baby as a result of putting that innocent child in an unsafe sleeping environment would be charged with first degree intentional homicide.

They, of course, walk, and are not held accountable.

Something is very wrong there.

Maintenance Man Arrested For Murder, Had Concealed Carry Permit

UPDATE, from Dan O'Donnell: Maintenance man under arrest for suspicion of first degree intentional homicide.
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If Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn knew this bit of information yesterday, he didn't mention it during the news conference about the assault and shooting that resulted in two fatalities.

Flynn said the maintenance man who was attacked and injured by three individuals was apparently acting in self defense when he shot and killed two of them.

I didn't comment on the incident immediately because I wanted to know more of the facts, like if the maintenance man had a permit to carry the gun.

That's a very important part of the story that Flynn neglected to share. I can't believe he didn't know.

According to Charlie Sykes, the maintenance man DID have a valid concealed carry permit.

Today, we learn the maintenance man, described by Flynn as cooperating with police, is under arrest.

From WISN-TV:

WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr said the 39-year-old maintenance man at the center of a beating was arrested in the case.

A 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman were shot and killed Wednesday afternoon inside a stairwell of an apartment building near 27th and Vliet streets.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said that three people got into a fight with the building's maintenance man.

One person began to beat the maintenance man with a bat while another person held him. The maintenance man had a handgun and fired, killing two people, Flynn said.

The third person, a 21-year-old man, is in police custody.

A person who lives in the building told WISN 12 News that the maintenance man had been there a few months, was a veteran and seemed like a nice guy.

"I'm glad that he's in the hospital and I'm going to pray for him," said Walter Deno.

Flynn said there is a witness who they are interviewing, and there is videotape of the attack and shooting.

It would have been better for Flynn to not address the media, rather than misleading the public. Flynn gave no indication whatsoever that the victim of the attack had a gun permit.

Why is the victim in jail?

When will we see the video? Soon, I hope.

Think of the many videos the public gets to see, especially when police are doing the beating, acting inappropriately, or considered to be acting negligently.

Those videos are played in endless loops.

I want to see what happened here. I want to see the three people attack the man with a baseball bat and his response.

Thankfully, there's a video.

It will be much more difficult for Tom Barrett, Flynn, and others to spin this case.

Universal Allah and Salah Jones: Stolen Stradivarius

Here's video from FOX6 News:



Waiting for the news conference, scheduled to begin at noon....

Authorities say the rare multimillion dollar Stradivarius violin stolen last month in Wisconsin has been recovered.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett praised investigators at a news conference Thursday for their work in recovering the violin.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn is speaking now.

Tom Barrett, standing behind Flynn, looks like he cracked the case himself. It's so rare to see him
look pleased. He's giddy. One of the suspects cut Barrett's hair? Joking around?



Yes, Universal Knowledge Allah cut Tom Barrett's hair.

Kind of strange.

Kind of a strange news conference.

Here's raw video:



Details, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The 300-year-old Stradivarius violin that was taken in an armed robbery last month has been found and will be returned to its owner later Thursday, authorities said at a news conference at the Milwaukee Police Department.

The three suspects — two men, ages 42 and 36, and a woman, 32 — were arrested Monday morning at their respective Milwaukee residences and remain in police custody.

Police Chief Edward Flynn said the violin was found in a suitcase in an attic of a residence, with the help of tips from citizens and information received from Taser International about the stun gun used in the robbery.

Police determined that suspect Universal Allah had bought the stun gun, and Salah Jones became the main suspect based on an independent tip. Jones has been linked to a prior art theft.

Milwaukee police have referred the case to the Milwaukee County district attorney's office. Charges are expected to be filed Friday, according to the district attorney's office.

Mayor Tom Barrett called it a "wonderful day" for all involved.

"It was a model of cooperation with the FBI working closely with the police department," Barrett said at the news conference.

The violin, crafted in 1715 and known as the Lipinski Strad after a former owner, was stolen from Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond during an armed robbery Jan. 27. Almond had played the instrument during a performance at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

I wonder how long the violin was in the attic. With the frigid temperatures we've had, I can't imagine that being good for the instrument.

"Universal Knowledge Allah"?

Are these videos on YouTube from the same Universal Knowledge Allah?

Universal Knowledge Allah building with the God

Universal Knowledge Allah building on the Science!

There's also a Universal Knowledge Allah on LinkedIn.

Same guy.

From 58 News:

36-year-old Universal Allah, 41-year-old Salah Jones and an unnamed female were arrested by Milwaukee police on February 3rd. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office plans to have charges filed and a criminal complaint issued by February 7th.

Universal Allah and Salah Salahadyn (AKA Salah Jones)

______________

Read the criminal complaint.
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Remember last December when the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra was supposedly teetering on brink of disbanding? The MSO needed millions of dollars fast.

Read about that here.

If the owner of the Lipinski Stradivarius violin, an instrument valued at upwards of $5 MILLION, offers it to Frank Almond of the MSO to carry around to concerts at Wisconsin Lutheran College, wouldn't you think a benefactor would offer the cash to keep the symphony afloat?

Streets of Milwaukee: One Dead, Six Wounded in Less Than 24 Hours

The violence in Milwaukee isn't subsiding.

From FOX6 News:

Milwaukee police are investigating four separate shooting incidents that occurred late Tuesday night, August 13th and early Wednesday morning, August 14th.

According to police, the first shooting incident occurred during an armed robbery at approximately 9 p.m. near 42nd and Glendale. Police say the victim, a 23-year-old man, sustained non-life threatening injuries.

About two hours later, police say a 56-year-old woman was shot in the 2400 block of W. Concordia.

Officials say the victim was walking when she was approached by three suspects who demanded property. During that time, one suspect fired a handgun, which caused a non-life threatening injury to the victim.

...The third shooting incident occurred in the 900 block of S. Ceaser Chavez around 1:30 a.m.

According to officials, a squad was in the area of 1600 block W. National when he heard gunshots. Upon checking the area, officials discovered a 27-year-old man lying on the sidewalk in the 900 block of S. Ceaser Chavez.

The victim suffered gunshots wounds which caused his death.

This investigation into this incident is ongoing.

The fourth incident occurred at 2:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of N. 24th Place. According to police, two individuals were sitting in there vehicle when a suspect approached the vehicle and fired shot, injuring both individuals.

Victim #1 is a 47-year-old man and victim #2 is a 26-year-old female.

There's more.

On Wednesday evening, two teens were shot.

Two teenage boys were shot and wounded on Wednesday evening, August 14th on Milwaukee’s north side.

Police say the double shooting took place near 25th and Burleigh just after 7:30 p.m. Both teens were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Good thing school is starting soon.

Then, the teens will be back in school and too busy studying to get involved in stuff that leads to shootings. They'll be hitting the books and preparing for a promising future, right?

Wrong.

Milwaukee needs a new mayor and a new police chief.

When leaders aren't producing and they aren't effective, they are replaced.

The time for replacing Milwaukee's mayor is LONG overdue.

Tom Barrett is a complete failure. Good grief, he's letting the city rot. Why are residents content with the city's death spiral that Barrett's been overseeing?

Ed Flynn seemed promising when he arrived, but he hasn't delivered. Of course, he doesn't control the resources he receives, but he does control his policing philosophy. To be effective, Flynn needed to translate theory into action, talk into results. He didn't.

At present, Flynn seems more concerned with staying in Barrett's good graces than turning the city around.

More Murder in Milwaukee, 19 Shootings Since Friday

UPDATE: Make that at least 20 shootings since Friday.

Police said another fatal shooting occurred late Wednesday on Capitol Drive. The Journal Sentinel's online crime map indicates a shooting was reported at 10:44 p.m. near the intersection of W. Capitol Dr. and N. Sherman Blvd.

Police have not yet provided details on the second Wednesday shooting, and neither victim has been publicly identified.

______________________

Milwaukee is having a violent, deadly summer.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

An employee shot during a robbery Tuesday at a Family Dollar store on Milwaukee's south side was one of eight people wounded by gunfire in the city within 24 hours and one of 18 shot since Friday.

The shooting was reported at 3:30 p.m. at the store at 4331 W. Oklahoma Ave. A 44-year-old man suffered a life-threatening injury, according to Milwaukee police.

Details on the seven other shootings here.

Wednesday was deadly as well.

Another Milwaukee murder:

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn has confirmed a fatal shooting in the 7600 block of 78th St. near Calumet on Wednesday, August 7th around 4:15 p.m. The victim is a 26-year-old man.

Initial investigation shows the incident started as a verbal argument that escalated to property damage and a physical fight. The shooting suspects left the area before returning and shooting the victim.

“Obviously it’s frustrating. The largest percentage of our homicides this summer have been arguments that, basically, went from words, to fists, to guns,” said Chief Flynn. “We’ve got a circumstance where there are people out here that are heavily armed, that engage in the confrontations with each other, that are willing to use firearms.”

This incident happened just hours after Chief Flynn and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett held a press conference addressing the rash of shootings Milwaukee has faced recently. Among the announcements made were $500,000 dedicated to police overtime.

...Mayor Barrett has asked to be notified each time there is a homicide in Milwaukee. The call for this incident was his 51st notification this year.

“We’ll figure it out and we’ll get to the bottom of it,” declared Chief Flynn.

Flynn and Barrett are not going to "figure it out," they're not going to "get to the bottom of it," if they both keep blaming state government and a lack of legislation for the violence.

The bloodshed in Milwaukee in June and July of 2006 was worse, when Jim Doyle was the governor. There was no Scott Walker state budget then.

I'm disappointed in Flynn. He's become a Barrett hack. He's abandoned the Broken Windows Theory and latched on to Barrett-style finger-pointing and passing the buck and impotence in terms of leadership.

They're literally blaming Governor Scott Walker for the mess in Milwaukee. They're saying lives are being lost because Walker is failing to act.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Walker spoke just a few hours after Barrett and Flynn held a news conference at City Hall asking the governor to act as soon as possible. Saying lives were being lost in the interim, Barrett called on the governor to call a special session. But Walker indicated that the Legislature was scheduled to return next month anyway and could take up the issue then.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Barrett also released a letter he and Flynn sent to Walker, asking for the state's help. In the letter, they said the violent incidents in the city are "extremely concerning, especially considering actions taken in the recent state budget which reduce state resources specifically targeted to reduce violence in Milwaukee."

This really ticks me off.

Violence is spreading throughout the city and Barrett and Flynn blame the state budget.

Blame the guns, inanimate objects. Blame Walker's budget. Blame a lack of legislation.

I'd like Barrett and Flynn to take some responsibility instead of playing politics to avoid accountability for their failures.

The city should be allocating its funds to make public safety a priority, not shaking down the state for cash. Money from the state won't address the judges employing the revolving door system. It won't address the citizens refusing to cooperate with police, making them accomplices of sorts to the thug culture.

...The entire police budget totaled $237.5 million this year, $1.3 million more than the year before.

Two years ago after a melee at the Wisconsin State Fair left 11 people hurt and resulted in 33 arrests, Walker ordered the Wisconsin State Patrol to assist police on the grounds. Asked if he was considering such a request to assist the Milwaukee Police Department this summer, Barrett said, "I'm not asking for that right now."

"We have men and women who can do the job," he said. "We need more boots on the ground."

Milwaukee needs leadership, not excuses.

Milwaukee desperately needs a new mayor.

Four Shootings in Milwaukee Monday Night

Violence in Milwaukee isn't just a weekend thing. Monday evening into night was busy as well.

From FOX6 News:

Milwaukee police are investigating four separate shooting incidents that occurred Monday night, August 5th and early Tuesday morning, August 6th.

The first incident occurred at approximately 7:27 p.m. near 25th and Concordia. According to police, a man sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. His injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

Police say no arrests have been made and the incident remains under investigation.

The second shooting occurred in the 1500 block of W. Hopkins around 9:35 p.m. Police say a man sustained a gunshot wound to the elbow while walking down the street.

The third shooting occurred in the 3200 block of Sherman Avenue around 9:40 p.m. According to officials, a 17-year-old boy sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

No arrested have been made in connection with this incident and it remains under investigation.

The last shooting incident under investigation occurred in the 2800 block of N. 53rd Street at approximately 12:05 a.m. Police say a 37-year-old man sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

Here's video:



Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, three-time failure as a gubernatorial candidate, blames guns. Police Chief Ed Flynn echoes Barrett.

Get rid of guns, those evil, evil guns.

Guns aren't inherently bad things. They aren't inherently good things. They are objects, incapable of thought and intent and action.

People use guns. They end lives as well as save lives.

Thug culture, the disintegration of the family, a lack of respect for authority, and government handouts leading to the elimination of personal responsibility are much greater threats to public safety than guns.

Guns don't do anything. Blame the thugs, not the guns.

Nonetheless, Flynn and Barrett look to more restrictions on guns, tougher laws, as the answer to stopping the violence.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Both called on legislators to enact a law that calls for a three-year minimum mandatory sentence for illegally possessing a firearm.

"We are asking for a change in state law," Barrett said. "If you cannot possess a gun and you do, there has to be a mandatory minimum sentence."

Barrett has been blaming the violence on a lack of gun legislation FOREVER. It's the same old song and dance from this guy.

Now Flynn has become Barrett's ally.

I don't have a problem with the "three-year minimum mandatory sentence for illegally possessing a firearm."

The problem is I don't think it will help significantly. The thugs know laws aren't enforced. Passing legislation like that is a feel-good move and not much more.

Mr. Mayor, you have a problem. It's not just the guns.

Bob Donovan to Scott Walker: 'HELP'

Alderman Bob Donovan has had enough and he's not going to take it anymore.

Donovan is continuing his efforts to save the city. That means acknowledging the fact that Mayor Tom Barrett is a dismal failure. It's unacceptable to ignore the violence and bloodshed.

On Monday, Donovan wrote a letter to Governor Scott Walker, requesting a city-state partnership to address the violence crippling Milwaukee.

Donovan holds Barrett accountable. The buck stops with him.

Unfortunately, Barrett has been unwilling or unable to effectively tackle the violence.

Alderman Donovan said he counted 12 shootings reported in the city during the weekend of July 26-28, and at least 14 shootings (with two fatalities) during this past weekend.

In the letter, Alderman Donovan states: “Milwaukee has, indeed, become a “tale of two cities.” On the one hand, the city’s beautiful lakefront and RiverWalk, world-class museums and cultural attractions, and prosperous East Side and near-downtown neighborhoods are the envy of any city, capable of impressing governors from across the nation. But just beyond those sites, attractions and neighborhoods lies a completely different Milwaukee, a broad and expanding swath of neighborhoods that are crime-ridden, dysfunctional and a serious burden on the city as a whole.”

Read the entire letter.

In short, Donovan is focusing on matters vitally important to the quality of life in Milwaukee. He's being a better leader than Barrett.