Morales addresses spike in Milwaukee homicides, details plan to cut down violence
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales addressed the cities recent spike in homicides Monday.
The announcement comes after the 16th homicide of August was reported Monday. Morales says that spike puts this year's homicide numbers on par with last year, but he said non-fatal shootings are down, fatal collisions are down, and more guns have been seized than last year.
The Police Chief said his number one priority is improving police/community relations. He also detailed law enforcement partnerships alongside representatives from the FBI and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau.
Morales says their community plan includes partnering with a private company to provide free in home cameras, a weekly shooting review to find problem spots – and work more in those areas, providing trauma informed care city wide and working closer with the city’s at risk youth.
“It comes from the down up, and the top down," Morales said. "Officers, and you heard me say that i’m really pushing to get our officers assigned to smaller geographical areas, so they get to know their areas. That’s basically the foundation of community oriented policing, is the community knowing what officer is in their area.”
Morales says it goes both ways, and police need the public’s input to be successful, He’s working to increase incentives for people who tip off police.