Milwaukee police chief in crash, 68th and Silver Spring

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman was involved in a traffic accident near 68th and Silver Spring on Monday morning, Nov. 6.

Witnesses said a dump truck rear-ended the police SUV that Chief Norman and another officer were in at a red light. Officials noted the other officer is 56 years old and has 28 years of service.

"We were behind the dump truck and next thing you know, boom," said Joyce Smith, who witnessed the crash. "All the glass shattered out."

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Witnesses said the chief left in a neck brace.

"The truck they were in, I guess his driver saw it coming," said Isaac Boyd, who also witnessed the crash. "He tried to get to his right and the truck hit him. I was asking him, was he alright? He said it was his back. He was holding his head. You could tell he was in pain."

The crash happened just after 10 a.m.

"The chief got out and walked over there and sat down," Smith said. "He was in pain. You could see it all over his face."

Norman took part in an event with Mayor Cavalier Johnson about reckless driving at Police District 4 before the crash. Johnson called the incident "cruelly coincidental."

"We did not need this type of reminder that all drivers need to slow down and increase caution on our roadways," he said.

Officials said the driver of the dump truck remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. The circumstances that led to the collision are being investigated by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

"I thought it was a shame," Smith said. "That lets you know it can be anyone of us."

Both the chief and the officer were taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Wednesday, police said both were released from the hospital to continue their recoveries.

The circumstances that led to the collision are being investigated by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.