FLYNN STEPS (PERHAPS UNWITTINGLY) INTO POLITICAL FRAY

Chief Edward Flynn has done an exemplary job introducing himself to his new community in a series of community forums and appropriate public appearances. However, there are no dark alleys in this city as frightening as the back corridors of politics. It appears that Flynn is allowing himself to be led down a scary path, blindfolded, by an alderman seeking to use him for electoral purposes.
The alderman is Terry Witkowski (13th) who is running for re-election opposed by former Milwaukee Police Association President Bradley DeBraska in a district heavily populated by public service employees. Witkowski's council web page features him in a photograph with Flynn in November, 2007, before the latter's appointment as head of the city's police force.
Yesterday, I heard that Flynn was planning to appear with Witkowski at an event today. I thought it was a public meeting held this morning, a notice of which Witkowski posted on the Common Council website. Fair enough. It is good for the chief to get around, and a little reflected glory shines nicely on a guy like Witkowski.
However, an item by Linda Spice in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel made it clear that Flynn was to address an entirely different group this evening at 6:30 p.m. at Wilson Commons.
According to Spice, Witkowski arranged a meeting this evening for 30 invited representatives of a dozen south side business and neighborhood groups that is "not open to the general public." The topic: addressing patrols, squad assignments and police response times.
And, unlike his morning meeting to discuss "Mitchell International Airport Area Focus Of Economic Development Summit," this one was not announced on the Common Council website.
So, since it isn't government work, the meeting this evening sure sounds like a dressy campaign event where Witkowski can show off the chief to his hand-selected south side business elite. (Believe it or not, there are schisms in the south side over such issues as the elimination of the S. 27th Street freeway ramp, which Witkowski supports.) George Dunst, the general counsel of the State Governmental Accountability Board says there is not sufficient information to determine if this is a campaign event, or if the Chief's presence matters. There is no allegation of any impropriety other than a certain deficiency of political instinct exhibited by the New Guy in Town, and opportunism on the part of the City Hall vet.
DeBraska, of course, is steamed. He certainly did not rank among the elite to be invited to the event. Asked for a comment, he said of his opponent, "setting up a closed door meeting excluding the public on safety and crime issues is despicable."
It's just way too early in the tenure of Chief Flynn for him to appear at private campaign events when the general public and the press should have a chance to meet him at public events first. Most police chiefs here limit their campaign activity to voting.
--Michael Horne