MPD hosts roll call in streets Tuesday after recent rash of violence



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Police Department hosted a roll call in the streets on Tuesday, August 27th, following another recent rash of violence. Milwaukee police are investigating four separate shooting incidents that occurred late Monday night, August 26th and into Tuesday morning. This, after three teenagers were shot and injured Monday evening while playing a game of pickup basketball near 26th and Orchard.

The Business Improvement District 48 on Tuesday night donated eight bicycles to the Milwaukee Police Department in the hopes of revitalizing the community and bringing more bike patrols and police presence in Milwaukee neighborhoods.

Michael Perez was in his kitchen when a pickup basketball game led to gunfire on Monday evening.

"I heard the first shot. It was like bam, bam, bam. When I came to the door I saw the three kids that got shot running. They all got shot in their legs. There's not enough police out here," Perez said.

Alderman Bob Donovan lives just blocks away from this latest shooting.

"We are reaping what we`ve sown. And the poor decisions that in my opinion our city fathers have made over the last five to six years, in not being able to staff our department and maintain order in the challenged neighborhoods that we have. Let's do what's right. Let's restore those positions," Alderman Donovan said.

The violence has impacted Margaret Acoff firsthand.

On Monday, August 26th, her cousin, 19-year-old Maurice Woods, was in the area of 27th and Burleigh where he was shot outside a home.

"I just wish it would stop. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was at the house with the kids, telling them he was getting his first work check and he was going back to school to be a barber. He was happy, looking forward to his life. He was happy about his birthday next week. Two hours later he's dead. He was such a sweet, loving boy and he always tried to make everyone laugh. Whoever did this, they shot and killed a wonderful person," Acroff said.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn says officers are combating the crime using statistical analysis and by focusing on hotspots.

"We're continuing to concentrate on the 10% of offenders who to generate over 50% of our crime and 10% of locations that generate more than 60% of our crime," Chief Flynn said.

Chief Flynn says those methods are putting officers in the right place at the right time, and their presence is making a difference.

"We`ve stepped it up a notch. You don`t make 2,000 arrests in a month if you haven`t stepped it up. You don`t seize 553 guns in seven weeks if you haven`t stepped it up," Chief Flynn said.

A spokesperson for Mayor Barrett says: "The mayor encourages Alderman Donovan to meet with the police department to see what they're doing. He doesn't understand the great lengths that the police department has gone to to reduce the violence in the city of Milwaukee."

By FOX6's count, we have seen 11 shootings in Milwaukee since Friday, August 23rd -- with three of those fatal.