'I'm trying to prevent crime': Milwaukee County supervisor aims to protect county parks ahead of busy summer

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After a Milwaukee police officer was shot and a street vendor harassed during a Cinco De Mayo Celebration earlier this week, county leaders took a closer look at the safety of Milwaukee County Parks.

The safety examination came just weeks ahead of a highly anticipated summer throughout the city and county of Milwaukee.

"What I'm trying to do is I'm trying to prevent crime, I'm trying to prevent it by activating people power as much as possible," said Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez of District 12.

At the footsteps of the Mitchell Park Domes, Martinez, along with community activists, rolled out their proposed plans to protect street vendors in county parks on Thursday, May 9.

"It’s going to be something, that’s going to maybe provide space for them in parks where it’s a safe space for them to come and sell," said Martinez.

Martinez went on to say one way to ensure the safety of parks and area vendors is by filling it with community activities.

"When we can sponsor events as a county and centralize those kinds of celebrations, so they don’t get out of hand we are able to make them more family oriented instead of being just free for all," said Martinez.

Martinez said for it to be a safe summer in the park it'll take a community coming together.

"It's not just me as an elected official, I can talk until I'm blue in the face, and I can write legislation, but I'm calling upon the people to come and use this park as much as possible."

There is now a hotline available for street vendors should they find themselves in trouble, that number is 414-539-1036.