Milwaukee to hire 50 new police officers next year to address growing staffing concerns

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Dozens of new officers will soon join Milwaukee’s police force. The funding for this move comes from a competitive federal grant designed to address hiring needs within law enforcement.

Tuesday, Mayor Cavalier Johnson signed a Council File making the measure official. He was joined by Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, District 13 Alderman Scott Spiker, and District 10 Alderman Michael Murphy.

The 2023 city budget gives the Milwaukee Police Department an additional $20 million of funding, but Mayor Johnson says it's not enough to address growing staffing concerns within the force.

Despite shortfalls in the budget, 50 additional officers will be hired next year using federal dollars.

"The money comes from President Joe Biden's Administration the US Dept. of Justice 2022 COPS Grant," said Mayor Johnson.

The competitive federal grant will provide $16 million to cover funding for the additional officers for the next three years, but some question the longer term.

"What happens after the three years? Well, the grant requires a 4th year of support but make no mistake, this is just to keep the force we have," said Alderman Spiker.

Mayor Johnson indicated that the city will work with lawmakers and others to address support in the long term to manage a shrinking police force caused by retirements and other departures.

Even with the city budget investment of $20 million into the police force, that still results in one percent fewer officers.

"This is a trend that has been going on for years. We spend more money for fewer, and fewer officers," said Spiker.

"I know that we're over 200 (officers) short and that is a fluid number as we are dealing with a larger group of officers who had come in over 25 years ago," said Chief Norman.

Leaders acknowledge that officers alone won't solve all of the problems.

"Fighting crime is not just hiring officers. We've invested in the Office of Violence Prevention, and we continue to provide other resources to help fight crime in our city but there is no substitute for law enforcement officers," said Alderman Murphy.

Mayor Johnson says while other steps are being taken to address public safety, there's no substitute for quality policing.

The 50 new recruits will begin their roles by the end of 2023.

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