A group of Wisconsin legislators is suggesting that Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and his command staff consider hitting the streets on patrol amid the escalating staffing crisis that they say is endangering officers and citizens.
They also are demanding that the contract impasse be immediately resolved; officers have gone without pay raises for 2.5 years, exacerbating a retention and recruitment crisis. The city has repeatedly asked for extensions on the contract negotiations, which are now before an arbitrator, and is balking at giving officers back pay, even though they already earn less than some area departments in safer areas.
The group of legislators penned the letter this week to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Two of the legislators who signed the document – Jim Piwowarczyk and Van Wanggaard – are former police officers. One, Bob Donovan, is a former Milwaukee alderman. (Note: Piwowarczyk is a co-founder of WRN)…