Milwaukee Police Department releases 2022 mid-year crime review

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman unofficially graded the city a 'B' when it comes to crime in the first half of the year. 

"We're on the right track, but we always can improve," Norman said.

Norman presented the department's mid-year review on Tuesday, July 5. The data was gathered from Jan. 1 to June 30 between 2020 and 2022. 

Both violent and property crimes are down eight percent in 2022 compared to 2021, according to MPD.

MPD data shows burglaries, car thefts, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault all decreased since June last year.

Gun violence is not on track with those downward trends.

While the number of non-fatal shootings didn't go up or down, homicides increased by 38 percent from 2021 to 2022.

"One death is one death too many," Norman said.

MPD recorded 110 homicides between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2022.

Norman said the department is doubling down on efforts to reduce gun violence, including by utilizing programs like Operation Summer Guardian, which targets neighborhoods with high shooting activity. 

"It's impossible to address the issue without talking about guns," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.

The Milwaukee mayor is once again calling on the state Legislature for gun reform, adding that the necessary change he seeks is out of the city's hands.

"We can make a difference, we are making a difference, and we can continue to make a difference," Johnson said. 

Human trafficking, arson and carjacking numbers also increased since June last year.

Crash data has also decreased, while reckless driving remains a visible issue. Chief Norman said they have the tools to curb the problem and make arrests when needed. 

“Public safety is a team effort, and we cannot achieve these improvements without the hard work from our partnerships with countless community stakeholders, elected officials, other law enforcement agencies and our residents. While we should all be encouraged by the decreases we have seen in several crime categories, we need to work as hard as ever to continue to address the violent crime, reckless driving and auto theft challenges that are affecting our community at an unacceptable rate,” said Chief Norman. MPD’s initiatives, partnerships and strategies related to those three crime categories can be found in our recently released Community Report.

"The homicide numbers for the first half of the year are alarming and warrant continued effort to marshal resources and build partnerships to drive them down," Mayor Johnson said. "There are encouraging signs from numbers in other crime categories, and we should build on those to make Milwaukee safer."

If you'd like to access Milwaukee Police Department's Crime Map and Statistics, CLICK HERE. 

Below is the mid-year crime report: