"Faith has a role to play" in fighting crime in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee's mayor and police chief are asking for help when it comes to curbing violence in the city.

Tuesday morning they addressed church goers and leaders in the faith community at the Milwaukee Ceasefire Sabbath Clergy Meeting and breakfast started with a prayer, which is appropriate for an event geared towards involving the faith community in the city's anti-violence initiative.

"If you figure we have close to 2,000 police officers, sworn officers on the street, if we have a 150 or 200 members of the clergy who are really working as a cavalry that's helpful," explained Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

While Mayor Barrett is optimistic about whom the faith community can reach and what they can do to further the cause, he's not naive about it.

"I am well aware of the fact that the people who are causing the problems in this city are not sitting in pews at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning," said Barrett. "But they may have a mother or a grandmother or a sister or a spouse who is sitting there, and that's who we want to reach."

Police Chief Ed Flynn agrees -- the more help they get, the closer they can get to end the violence in the city.

"I think the clergy has terrific potential for a strong partnership with our attempts to reduce the levels of violence. Faith has a role to play. So does the mobilization of faith and we're hoping to have that conversation today," said Chief Flynn.

To add to that conversation, both the police chief and mayor referred to last year, how the violence escalated in the summer months, specifically July, which is why this year they want to get an early start.

'We're trying to do everything we can now before the weather turns warm to make sure that we have as many people engaged in making our neighborhoods safe," said Barrett.

The event and breakfast signal the beginning of Mayor Barrett's "Ceasefire Week." Other events for the week are below: