Milw. alderman calls for increasing police overtime funding



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan is proposing the idea of spending $620,000 from the 2013 Common Council Contingent Fund for police overtime and the hiring of 20 additional police officer recruits.

In a statement released on Thursday morning, May 2nd, Alderman Donovan says, "We are now on the doorstep of a summer that I fear could be one of our bloodiest, and dispatchers are already so swamped that people are waiting for 10 minutes and more to report serious incidents such as shots being fired near their homes. In fact, it is my understanding that calls to report shots fired are unfortunately an all too common occurrence."

Common Council President Willie Hines says he'll listen to Donovan's proposal, but that it's also important to rely on Chief Flynn's strategies.

"The council in times past, we've been able to provide additional dollars when the chief or the department has needed it and if the chief finds himself where he is in a situation that additional resources are needed, we're willing to accommodate him just as we have in times past," said Hines.

Milwaukee resident Jean Richardson commented, "We need more police force. We need, you know, to concentrate on that, or to concentrate on a bigger communications center for 911 so we're not sitting on hold while a bad crime is being committed."

Neither Donovan nor Hines have heard from Chief Flynn on the matter. FOX6 News made the request for comment but has not yet received one from the chief.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for the latest on this developing story.