Milwaukee police, community orgs spread word of peace on city's south side after string of violence
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee police, along with community members, door-knocked on the south side Tuesday afternoon after a string of violence on 5th Place between Burnham and Becher.
The door-knocking was organized by Milwaukee Police District 2 with the help of the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP). OVP could not give us comment on-camera and they were not present during the walk. Other community organizations and community pastors also joined.
One pastor, Luis Pizarro, with Transformed Men Ministries, began the walk with a prayer. The pastor said those south side streets were all too familiar to him.
"I've seen the streets; I've been shot myself right here. I mean I've seen it all," said Pastor Pizarro.
He's been off the streets for several years now, working alongside those who were once his enemies -- the police.
"Now coming together with them and working for the betterment of our community, that's what brings me here," said Pastor Pizarro.
Milwaukee Police District 2 Captain Patrick Pajot said the door-knocks are attempts to get to know the community to make a difference.
"We just had a lot of gun violence in this area, we had three non-fatal shootings on this block over about a one-week period, so we just wanted to get out and talk to the community for a little bit," said Captain Pajot.
The two-block stretch of 5th Place between Becher and Burnham is known as crack alley, violence running rampant. Some neighbors refused to open their doors out of fear. When Captain Pajot was asked if these door-knocks are making an impact, he said any effort could make the slightest change.
"There's a lot of people that won't even call the police, and I think by us, just getting out and talking to them and show them that we're human beings behind these badges is a really good thing," said Captain Pajot.
Pastor Pizarro agrees.
"I think the presence of good, the presence of good anywhere can change things around," said Pastor Pizarro.
Captain Pajot said this wasn't their first community door-knocking walk and it won't be their last.