MPD audit finds backlog of 10,000 court cases contributing to significant overtime pay

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The city of Milwaukee has budgeted $20 million for police overtime pay next year, according to a new audit of MPD overtime procedures.

Tuesday, the Milwaukee city comptroller briefed the Finance and Personnel Committee about the overtime use.

Thirteen Milwaukee police officers each logged more than 750 overtime hours last year, and a backlog of 10,000 court cases is responsible for a significant amount of the overtime pay.

Aldermen say it's putting a great deal of strain on the city's public safety resources. 

There is also concern officers are being overworked in a difficult job.

"I worry about individual officers who put in such long hours that they make mistakes," said Ald. Michael Murphy, District 10. "And those mistakes can result in people's lives, but also lawsuits."

"The fact that the murder rate and the gun violence rate went way up in the last few years. Also, the fact that MPD salaries go up, so that gets baked in," said Nik Kovac, Milwaukee budget and management director.

MPD representatives spoke at the briefing remotely, but they could not say when the backlog of cases will be caught up. 

The comptroller's office merely shared its findings. It did not make any recommendations.