Ald. Donovan unveils eight-point safety plan to "Take Back Milwaukee"

MILWAUKEE -- The numbers are sobering: 106 homicides in 2013.  That number made the murder rate jump by about 16 percent in Milwaukee.  But Alderman Bob Donovan (8th District) says he has a plan to help communities take back their city from criminals.



\"There is no limit to what this community can accomplish if we're all pulling in the same direction,\" Donovan said.



State lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and State Senator Alberta Darling, joined Donovan to reach out to a crowd of grade schoolers Monday.  Donovan debuted his eight-point public safety plan at Christ St. Peter Lutheran School.



\"Everyone wants a safer community,\" Ald. Donovan said.



His \"Take Back Milwaukee\" plan calls for people to make community service pledges and clean up the streets.  It  also looks to expand the Shotspotter program, something that would require funding from Madison.



\"We want to find resources at the state level to ensure that technology is put to work, right here in this community to keep it safe,\" Speaker Vos (R - Burlington) said.



Shotspotter uses sensors across three square miles to identify gunfire and get police to the scene faster.  But it costs up to $50,000 per square mile and Republicans voted to cut a near half-million dollar state grant that helped the program.  But now, after lobbying from Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, Sen. Darling (R - River Hills) hopes to  get the state to kick in $175,000.



\"When you focus on crime and you have the community focused with you together to put  muscle into your effort, you can get a lot done,\" Darling said.



Donovan's plan also requests 250 new police officers hired in two years.  The 2014 city budget added 120 officers.  Based on last year's finances, hiring 130 more would cost more than $8 million.

 

\"The few million necessary to bring those officers on, it's there,\" Donovan said.



\"We could input a lot of cops, we could give a lot of money, but if the actual community doesn't collaborate, make the phone calls, there's no use,\" Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator Patricia Ruiz said.



CBS-58 called Mayor Tom Barrett's office for comment on this plan, specifically if it's feasible to hire another 130 officers in 2015. We did not hear back from his office. 

Some of Donovan's plans require private funding too.  Monday, the Kohn Law Firm pledged $50,000 to help.