Schimel Announces Initiative To Rein In Gun Violence In Milwaukee

With gun deaths in Milwaukee so far this year already surpassing last year’s total, Attorney General Brad Schimel has announced a coordinated effort to rein in gun violence in the city.

At a news conference Monday, Schimel said police prosecutors, judges and parole agents have pledged to work together to keep violent criminals off the streets. Schimel say more than half of the shootings in the city are committed by people on parole or probation, so there will be a stepped up effort to monitor activities of parolees.

“The Department of Corrections is going to dramatically increase the number of agents working to do residence checks and bar checks on these individuals at all hours of the days and weekends,” said Schimel. “And then where we can catch these individuals violating their rules, we’re going to seek their revocation so we don’t have to wait until they shoot someone to do something about it.”

The initiative also includes the creation of a second gun court in the city that will handle gun crimes exclusively. Schimel believes the new effort will result in speedier trials and more certain accountability for perpetrators.

“We simply can’t keep looking at the number of people being shot,” said Schimel. “Many of them are criminals shooting each other. But there are so many innocent victims who are getting hit by this, and it simply can’t go on.”

Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Ed Flynn have pledged their full cooperation in the effort.