Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman; man behind the badge

Long before rising to the rank of police chief in the Milwaukee Police Department, life for Jeffrey Norman started on a quiet block near Milwaukee’s Messmer High School.

MILWAUKEE - Long before rising to the rank of police chief in the Milwaukee Police Department, life for Jeffrey Norman started on a quiet block near Milwaukee’s Messmer High School.

"This is stomping grounds right here," Norman said as he walked his old block in early February. "My father only allowed us to ride our bikes around the block."

Norman credits his mother and father for instilling the power of education. He was shaped by his family and historic trailblazers like Frederick Douglas and Ida B. Wells.

He said education was a big component in his household. Norman holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a master’s degree from Kaplan University and a law degree from Marquette University Law School.

Policing is Norman's passion. He joined the force in 1996.

"This is what success looks like, coming straight from the neighborhood," Norman said.

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Jeffrey Norman was sworn in as Milwaukee's police chief, with his wife and children by his side in November 2021. He is a product of Milwaukee and believes his background helps him in his role.

"It gives it a level of legitimacy, genuineness, the integrity that you’re looking for in those public servants in your own community," Norman said. "I’ve always been part of community engagement."

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman

Norman takes on the role of top cop during a challenging time for Milwaukee. There is reckless driving, skyrocketing car thefts, and a record number of homicides in 2021. 2022 is already outpacing last year’s violence. The former homicide investigator says the department is working to keep the community safe.

"It’s a holistic public safety review, meaning we cannot just arrest our way out of it, patrol our way out of it," Norman said. "Understand there are partnerships with our preventative care."

Norman referenced preventative relationships with Milwaukee Public Schools, 414Life, Office of Violence Prevention, and Running Rebels. Authorities are working to target those people doing the most harm and redeploying resources.

"Investigative teams doing less property crimes, more the unfortunate violent crimes, the non-fatals, the homicides," Norman said.

One-on-one with Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman

FOX6's Aaron Maybin sat down for a lengthy, one-on-one interview with Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.

Chief Norman is focused on engagement, building trust, and finding positive solutions. He also shared he is proud of the men and women who serve the city every day.

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"We’re only as impactful as a community we serve who are going to communicate to us who is doing the most harm," Norman said. "A legacy I would like to see is that they’re not thinking about me. That they’re seeing the results of what this strategy of community engagement, of being part of a collective response to public safety as just something that has always been."

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