FBI Director Visits Milwaukee, Praises Law Enforcement Efforts

The director of the FBI was in Wisconsin Tuesday, talking about ways to reduce gun homicides and domestic terrorism, but side-stepped questions on gun control.

Seven months into the director’s job, James Comey has been visiting more of the FBI field offices. His arrival in Milwaukee came as the city has been dealing with several gun homicides in recent weeks, though the death toll is behind last year’s pace.

Comey says law enforcement in Milwaukee is doing some things right to address the violence, “(by) focusing in a surge fashion on the most difficult neighborhoods,” he said.

“I’ve been in this business a long time. You cannot arrest your way to a healthy neighborhood: you’ll just be arresting all day long. If in the space you create by your arrests, something healthy doesn’t grow…” Comey continued.

Comey says local officials are trying to foster the growth of healthy institutions to replace the criminals who have guns. Milwaukee’s mayor and police chief have also been campaigning for tougher state and national gun laws, but Comey won’t say how he feels about more gun control.

Some of the so-called “home-grown” extremists have used guns to kill people, as during the mass shooting at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek two years ago. FBI Director Comey urges citizens to tell law enforcement when they hear people start to talk or text in favor of violence.

“We’re not asking people to be dark, cynical people,” he said, “but when you see something that gives you concern about behavior, just say something, and that may help us tremendously.”

Comey contends the FBI follows the rule of law and will not be doing illegal searches or eavesdropping on people.