Neighbors react positively to higher police presence: "Nobody come around even if it’s one of my loved ones"
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- After two young kids were shot earlier this week near 37th and Hadley, neighbors and community leaders are saying it's time to take back their streets. Several groups of people have been taking multiple approaches to bring peace to the area. Right now, that means residents are seeing more squad cars on their streets.
It seems on every street, there's always that one person who sees everything that happens. On the corner of 37th and Hadley, Booker Coleman is that guy.
"Today….I would say at least about every fifteen minutes or so yeah I’m not sure but it’s been quite a few in this area," says Coleman.
This is the sight he's talking about: an increased police presence in the neighborhood following Wednesday's shooting that injured two children. FOX6 found several residents who say the extra enforcement is a very welcome addition.
"I love for the police to stake out then won’t nobody come around even if it’s one of my loved ones that wants to do wrong, they can see the police, they can stay where they at too, I love them but I’m not missing them," says Dorthine Love, resident.
Neighbors say the more visible police presence has made for a quieter day on the street. The area falls into Alderman Russell Stamper's district; he says additional officers are a good place to start, but stopping the violence will also take deeper community roots.
"It’s out of control and everybody needs to help at this point. You’re either sitting down or you’re standing up, standing up means you’re helping, you’re getting involved, you’re talking to the young men, you’re organizing. Sitting down means you’re doing nothing," says Stamper.
Russell Stamper's not the only one trying to bring residents to their feet. Elder Malcolm Hunt is with Pastors United -- the group works with police to respond to shooting scenes and act as counselors.
"We assist the family of the victim that got shot and we also assist the family of the person that did the shooting," says Hunt.
FOX6 caught up with Hunt as he and Stamper were helping to resolve a neighborly dispute. He says it'll take a community effort to resolve problems before they balloon into violence in order to make these streets safer.
"Lets sit down and see if we can work things out before it turn to violence where someone may end up getting killed," says Hunt.
As for the increased police presence in the neighborhood, the residents we spoke with said they're very please with the effect it's had on the area today.