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Crime in Milwaukee continues to decline
By jsonline.com
Published: 01/21/2010

Crime in Milwaukee has decreased for an eighth consecutive quarter, according to statistics to be released Thursday by Milwaukee police, but Police Chief Edward A. Flynn cautioned that the downward trend could be slowed or reversed by the struggling economy and the early release of some prisoners.

Crime in the city decreased 7.2% in 2009 when compared with the previous year and 11.9% when compared with 2007, according to the department's statistics.

Violent crime - homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault - is down 12.8% when compared with 2008 and 20% when compared with 2007, the data shows.

"I'm very proud of the work of the Police Department over the last two years to increase the levels of safety in this community," Flynn said. "But I'm concerned about the future. We're all paying attention to the economy, and we're all paying attention to the effect the economy is having on state revenue. The state is making decisions that will have an impact, largely negative, on the city of Milwaukee."

Flynn, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm all expressed concern Wednesday about the effects that the early release of some prisoners could have on the city.

The state Department of Corrections granted early release to 21 prisoners this month, the first group of nonviolent offenders to be released under a plan designed to relieve prison overcrowding and save money.

"This is going to have an effect on us," Flynn said. "That's undeniable, particularly in light of the fact that we have insufficient probation and parole officers to monitor (offenders') behavior. If there's a point I want to make, a takeaway here as we confront 2010, it's that disinvestment in criminal justice is a false economy.

"We think we're saving money, but we're not really saving money because these costs are going to be reflected in what happens to crime victims and their property, medical treatment, insurance cases, and the reputation of neighborhoods as being safe for business. There is a cascading effect that can be very negative."

Flynn, Barrett and Chisholm met with Corrections Secretary Rick Raemisch last week to discuss the early release program.

All three local officials said more investment in re-entry programs for released prisoners is necessary.

"We have to have resources for additional probation and parole agents in Milwaukee and for legitimate re-entry programs and support so that people who are being released are not just being put in a position where they're going to recommit crimes," Barrett said.

Flynn said Milwaukee police arrest about 4,800 people on probation or parole each year, and a department spokeswoman said between 350 and 400 people were on electronic monitoring when they were arrested in 2009. Reflects national trend

Milwaukee's drop in crime over the last two years reflects a nationwide decrease.

Reported violent crimes decreased 4.4% in the first half of 2009 nationally when compared with the same period in 2008, according to preliminary FBI figures released in December. Property crime decreased 6.1%, the figures show.

Milwaukee recorded 72 homicides in 2009, one more killing than occurred in the city in 2008, according to the Police Department. No homicides had occurred in the city in 2010 as of late Wednesday.

The 2008 and 2009 homicide totals represent the lowest yearly totals in Milwaukee since 1985, when 70 people were murdered in the city.

Non-fatal shootings also decreased in 2009, according to the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission. Last year, 439 people were shot in the city, down from 448 in 2008 and 485 in 2007, according to the commission. Arson, burglary increase

Other than homicide, the only crimes that increased from 2008 to 2009 were arson and burglary.

Police have focused on burglaries, but the entire criminal justice system must treat burglaries more seriously by increasing bails for suspects and prosecuting more cases, Flynn said.

"I think burglary has represented a challenge for us, and a frustrating one," he said. "Burglaries are committed by strangers and can really undermine the confidence of entire neighborhoods. We have devoted major resources to dealing with burglaries this year. . . . We need the rest of the system to view this particular property crime as seriously as it does most violent crimes. We have made no shortage of burglary arrests, trust me."

Chisholm agreed that the increase in burglaries must be addressed but noted that burglary investigations require significant time and resources.

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