Town hall in Washington Park neighborhood discusses ways community can lower summer violence

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In Washington Park, Monday night, May 19, county and law enforcement leaders led a community discussion about how to help keep the neighborhood safe.

The town hall comes as some crime statistics are increasing.

The meeting served as a rallying cry for community members to get engaged and stay engaged. As summer events and activity ramp up, they want people to take an active role in maintaining safety.

Keyshia Rule works for community group Rooted and Rising, which engages with people in the neighborhood. She told us, “That’s the first thing. We have to get them to trust us because they really don’t trust the system.”

With concerns that warmer weather could mean more crime, Washington Park neighbors gathered to talk about what they can do to help stop it before it starts.

Rule said, “As long as we reach to prevent things from escalating to the point of gunfire or fights, things like that, if we can stop it and de-escalate it before it gets to that point, we’ll do better.”

Monday’s town hall was hosted by County Supervisor Sky Capriolo. She and law enforcement leaders fielded questions.

Both the police department and sheriff’s office say there are simple things everyone can do, regardless of where they live.

Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball told us, “It’s important that each of us take ownership of what we can do. What we can make a difference in.”

Some crime trends are concerning community leaders.

The city of Milwaukee's Office of Community Wellness and Safety says there has been “a troubling rise” in homicides since March 2025, fueled by “interpersonal conflicts, increased firearm access and unresolved trauma.”

The office said the majority of those victims are Black men between the ages of 18 and 29.

The office deploys critical response teams to impacted neighborhoods. In April alone, more than 255 interventions were made.

And progress has been made in many other areas.

Over the past few years, there has been a reduction in crime, according to the sheriff’s office.

In the city of Milwaukee so far this year, other crime statistics are down:

• Non-fatal shootings are down 18%
• Robberies are down 16%
• Aggravated assaults are down 21%
• And carjackings are down 28%

Advocates hope community engagement can keep that momentum going.

Rule said when that happens, “They talk to us better. They let us know what the problems are before they escalate into something bigger.”

The sheriff’s office has helped community members in the Sherman Park neighborhood start a neighborhood patrol.

There was interest Monday night in pursuing a similar idea in Washington Park.