Milwaukee leaders share concern over 'senseless' violence after 12-year-old killed, officer shot

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Following a violent start to the summer, including an officer-involved shooting and a 12-year-old shot on Thursday night, June 12, Milwaukee leaders are voicing their concerns.

According to Milwaukee police, homicide rates are up 14% in Milwaukee compared to last year. Officials say recent violence is "senseless" and it's on all of us to do our part.

"We have to make sure we don’t get used to what we're seeing that we don't get desensitized... We all have a responsibility to have some part in the safety in our community. We are law enforcement, but policing is all of our responsibility," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.

The call from various city leaders for everyone to get involved to put a stop to the deadly trend. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said, "the senseless violence that we're seeing, we really have to step up as a community. If you don't feel like you have a responsibility to getting involved, then we’ve somewhat lost our humanity as a community.".

WAVE, Wisconsin's oldest and largest gun violence prevention organization, says they see rates of gun violence "skyrocket" during the summer over the past 5 years, and they're concerned for the next few weeks. WAVE'S associate executive director, Nick Matuszewski shared, "the sad thing is that a lot of the tragedies we see in Wisconsin are fully preventable both with policy changes if there was political will to do so."

In the summer, many families want to go outside and enjoy their free time. So that means keeping kids active in a safe space with positive activities. "We're pretty resource-rich in Milwaukee. If a kid wants to play a sport, if they want to work, swim, eat, learn conflict resolution we have those things available in Milwaukee," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. That would be available through the "Hello Summer" initiative.

However, for a permanent and larger scale impact, Matuszewski said policies to reduce access to firearms and ensuring there are programs for communities is what is needed in Wisconsin.

WAVE recommends that before you allow your kid to go on a playdate, ask their parents if there are guns in their home. It's also crucial that all firearms are locked in a safe and unloaded.