City, state leaders tour Milwaukee neighborhood impacted by violence
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- We've seen more violence in Milwaukee this week, and a group of city leaders gathered Tuesday, August 20th for a tour of a neighborhood not far from one of the recent murders.
Milwaukee Police on Tuesday were investigating four separate shooting incidents that occurred Monday night, August 20th. One person was killed, and four were injured.
Earlier Monday, one person was shot and killed in a murder-suicide incident at the Cameo Care Center. The shooter eventually stabbed himself to death.
Police are investigating two separate shooting incidents that occurred Sunday night, August 18th and Monday morning, August 19th.
This week's incidents come on the heels of a very violent August for the city of Milwaukee.
Police continue to investigate four separate shooting incidents that occurred late Tuesday night, August 13th and early Wednesday morning, August 14th.
This, after a bloody early August in the city of Milwaukee, with over two dozen shootings recorded during the first 10 days of the month.
On Tuesday, August 20th, Alderman Bob Donovan invited state lawmakers to take a tour of a neighborhood impacted by the recent violence. This, as some leaders are encouraging the state to step in, to boost policing in the city of Milwaukee.
Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee), a member of the Joint Finance Committee has announced he will be introducing legislation to provide for $500,000 in state matching funds to boost city policing in the city of Milwaukee.
Lawmakers who participated on Tuesday's neighborhood walk were Republicans, though one uninvited guest showed up: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
"I've been not invited to many things and crashed many parties," Mayor Barrett said.
Mayor Barrett talked to Republican state lawmakers in an effort to develop a partnership between the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin.
Mayor Barrett has joined Rep. Richards in asking for $500,000 in state funds to target crime.
"What I've said is we'd be more than willing to give them acess to any information that they want from the city," Mayor Barrett said.
As the group walked through alleyways and south side streets talking with citizens and checking out problem areas, Alderman Donovan called for the city to fill police vacancies -- something that is proposed in the 2014 city of Milwaukee budget.
"We have neighborhoods, and an increasing number of neighborhoods in my opinion, that are challenged and dragging the rest of Milwaukee down and truly keeping us from reaching our full potential," Alderman Donovan said.
Republican Assembly Leader Robin Vos did not want to address specific proposals, but said he does want to talk further with city of Milwaukee officials.
"The state of Wisconsin wants to be a partner with anybody who is wiling, but the most important way to do that is to reach out, have the conversations, see the problem before you assume you have the answers," Vos said.
City leaders have also called on the state of Wisconsin to change the law, and make illegal gun possession a felony with a mandatory three-year prison term.