Milwaukee police chief calls on community to intervene with youth following brazen exchange of gunfire in Third Ward

Police Chief Jeffrey Norman issued a renewed "call to action" for the community to intervene with Milwaukee's youth, who are increasingly becoming victims and suspects in crimes, including a brazen exchange of gunfire Tuesday night in the Third Ward.

The Milwaukee Police Department sent a statement Wednesday evening about an incident the night before where seven teenagers were arrested, suspected of breaking into cars and firing shots at a parking lot attendant in the Third Ward. Norman would then send a "letter to the community" just minutes after the initial statement.

On Tuesday, at about 7 p.m., on the 500 block of East Corcoran Avenue, a 28-year-old fired three shots into the air in an attempt to stop teens breaking into a vehicle, according to police.

In an an email obtained by the Journal Sentinel from nearby apartment management to Third Ward residents after management spoke to witnesses and police, the incident took place near a warehouse on Corcoran Avenue and the 28-year-old was "patrolling and monitoring" the lot.

After the initial shots, the guard confronted one of the teens inside the vehicle and the teen pointed a firearm at him, police said. The guard took cover, but the remaining teens pulled up in a vehicle and started shooting at him, according to police. The guard returned fire and the teens fled in the vehicle. No one was injured, police said.

Police observed the suspected vehicle on the 300 block of North Water Street and initiated a traffic stop. The suspected vehicle initially pulled over; however, fled and a pursuit ensued, according to police.

The pursuit ended when the vehicle collided with two vehicles on South 13th Street and West Lincoln Avenue, police said. Seven teenagers, a 16-year-old girl, and six boys from ages 13 to 16, were arrested and several firearms were recovered. Police said the man was also arrested.

Charges will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days.

The nearby apartment management told residents that security will be increased in the area into the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

"All 7 of these kids were in a stolen vehicle attempting to steal another vehicle," Norman said in his statement. "They had guns, and when a security guard tried to stop them from stealing the vehicle, they shot at the guard. Many of these kids had prior arrests and prior convictions for taking cars without owner’s consent. Many of these kids weren’t even old enough to get a license."

Norman calls on the community again

Norman, who was passed over for the chief job in Austin, Texas, earlier this month, reiterated his belief that the community must do more to intervene with Milwaukee's youth.

"As Chief of Police for the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), a lot of things keep me awake at night," he wrote. "Every morning, I am briefed about the major crimes that have occurred in the last 24 hours and the arrests my officers have made.

"Recently, I have had many sleepless nights over the arrests we are making of youth, many who are 14, some older, and some even younger at 11, 12 years of age. These kids are brazenly using firearms to take cars and other property from strangers. This compels me to call our community to intervene.

"This is not intended to raise the alarm that the City of Milwaukee is a dangerous place. In fact, our crime numbers are down. Crime and people causing harm to one another has been around since the beginning of humanity.

"This is intended to raise awareness about the trends I am seeing in reckless youth behavior."

In addition to Tuesday's incident, Norman points to an incident earlier this month in which a 14-year-old boy was charged in adult court with five counts, including first-degree reckless homicide, accused of fleeing police after a robbery and crashing into and killing a motorcyclist in Walker's Point.

"Not old enough to drive, yet doing so with complete disregard for the people around him," Norman wrote. "He, too, was a kid who had multiple prior offenses for this same type of behavior.

"MPD’s role is to respond to crimes when they occur and arrest those who cause harm to others. MPD also works hard to prevent crimes through patrol, education and outreach. We are committed to innovative new approaches. We are always open to new ideas. But even with unlimited resources, we can’t be everywhere, and our primary and priority role in crime is to enforce the law. If crime occurs, MPD arrests. After an arrest is made, we present our evidence to our partners in the criminal justice system who then use that evidence to build a case that goes to court. The court process results in a consequence for the offender.

"From our end, these consequences are not changing our youth’s behavior. The kids we are arresting are reoffending. The community must intervene."

Norman asks, 'What are you doing to help?'

Norman closed with strong words for community leaders, residents as a whole, and the press.

"To the media, I ask that your coverage of crime includes an exploration into why individuals are committing these crimes. Instead of asking why MPD is pursuing vehicles, ask why are people not stopping when MPD tries to pull them over? Instead of asking why MPD doesn’t write more citations for unlicensed drivers, ask why are so many people driving without a license? Why are kids or young adults using guns to steal, instill fear, and cause harm? What have their parents done to address this behavior? The public has a right to know what is driving the actions of those who are causing harm to others. It is easier to report out on how law enforcement responds when a crime occurs, but it is indeed a more difficult task to get to the heart of what compels the reckless behavior. I challenge you to make that a focus.

"To those in our community who can step up to the plate – youth organizations, organizations that work with parents, healthcare professionals, legislators, parents, faith leaders, aunts, uncles, neighbors, what can you do to educate our youth to not bring harm to others, and what can you do to ensure that they don’t?

"This call to action isn’t new. I’ve held press conferences, and participated in interviews. I’ve been at community meetings. I am trying to get this message out in any space that I can. We need you at the table. Our youth need you at the table. Be a part of the solution. What are you doing to help?"

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police chief calls on community to intervene with youth following brazen exchange of gunfire in Third Ward