City of Milwaukee to survey citizens about police department

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The City of Milwaukee is hoping to improve police and community relations by asking citizens to take a survey about the Milwaukee Police Department.

"It's critically important to ask your customers how you're doing," said Milwaukee Alderman Michael Murphy. "We want to enhance and improve the community relations."

Starting this spring, the Fire and Police Commission will conduct a series of surveys in person and through social media as a way to gauge public perception and find out where the MPD may be lacking.

"No one's really taken the time to ask the public "how do you really feel about the services that are being provided?" said Murphy. "It will give us guidance to adjust our training and our policies."

To pay for the survey, $25,000 will come from the city budget and $25,000 will come from assets forfeited by criminals. It's something the Police Chief Ed Flynn has been asking for.

"It will give us guidance to adjust our training and our policies," said Chief Flynn. "We can have the bad guys pay for part of it, as well, and that's also a good thing."

The city is hopeful this is a step in the right direction to bring change and guide them in solving issues.

"It's not only important to get citizen attitudes about police, but also about their neighborhoods and the city at large," said Chief Flynn.

The information collected will also help decide how certain police funds should be used. The Fire and Police Commission will contract an outside firm to do the surveys and enlist help from academies.