STAGED EVENT MIFFS POLICE UNION

There was no room in Mayor Tom Barrett’s office for members of the police union (some with signs suggesting an “early release” for Governor Jim Doyle) during a hastily-called joint press conference the dual dignitaries held Friday.

Politics, it seems, is in bad form during election season and had nothing to do with Doyle’s decision to come to Milwaukee to jointly announce with the mayor a summer youth jobs program and extra funds for police overtime.

(One police union sign read, “Governor Doyle, Welcome to Milwaukee. FINALLY”)

This came a day after U. S. Rep. Mark Green took Doyle to task for not coming to Milwaukee’s aid after a violent Memorial Day weekend. Green is running for governor against Doyle, and had just that day received the endorsement of the Milwaukee Police Association.

The union is furious with Doyle because Lenard Wells, the former head of the state Parole Commission, freed a cop killer. The union wants this practice to stop. Wells resigned, for what could be described as political reasons.

In the midst of all of this politics, nine union members, carrying the signs (“No More Cop Killers on Streets”) were turned away from the closed-door meeting in the mayor’s office by a member of the governor’s staff who said there was only room for the dignitaries, including Chief Nannette Hegerty, and the media. That probably would be enough to fill up the mayor’s office.

“Why not hold the event in the larger reception area?” the police asked.

“Because it’s not safe.”

“Of course it’s not safe, you’re in the city of Milwaukee,” the cops responded.

“We don’t have the proper security detail.”

The fact is the mayor and governor were both together Thursday in a crowd of 1,000 at the groundbreaking of the Harley-Davidson Museum held outdoors, and were plenty secure. The mayor has held many news conferences in the vestibule of his office at which members of the police union have appeared. The police hung around, and after the event challenged Barrett and Doyle. The two did not respond and walked stiffly away, smiling for the cameras, and missing an opportunity to say something to disarm the competition.

Politicians used to be much more able to handle contact with their opposition, and should know that there will be protestors and sign-bearers in their presence. However, it is far too easy for chief executives to hold their press conferences in their offices where any opposition would be out of sight. Access control is a privilege of incumbency.

The elements of the governor’s proposal included his directing a share of federal money under his control to Milwaukee for summer jobs.

He also announced $200,000 in overtime money for the police. “That’s about two weeks’ worth of overtime,” said Sebastian Raclaw of the police union. Doyle also said he plans to ask the legislature Joint Finance Committee for an additional $1 million in overtime money. Although the legislature has pretty much gone to bed, the governor can convene something called a 1310 session to request the funds.

Of course, it gets hot every summer, and June seems a bit late to be planning the summer’s police budget.

There is a general consensus that crime is out of control in certain areas of the city. Former police chief Art Jones, faced with this perennial problem, saturated the streets with cops. Although crime went down, overtime costs skyrocketed. Furthermore, the Milwaukee Police Department is short 250 of its authorized strength, according to union numbers. We will have to face this financial and social reality one way or another.

Here is a link to the joint press release of the governor and mayor, from the governor’s website.

--Michael Horne