Mayor Barrett Laments Lack of State Funding at Annual Crime Prevention Awards Luncheon in Milwaukee

It was a time for community pride.

With the Police Chief looking on, a wide array of community members honored for their efforts to prevent crime, whether they wear a badge or not.

LISC Milwaukee and Safe & Sound, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to safe and vital greater Milwaukee neighborhoods, are honored to carry on this tradition by hosting the 68th Annual Luncheon.  Community members and law enforcement representatives are honored for their outstanding efforts to improve safety in their communities.

"The great thing about this event is that it recognizes that crime prevention and community safety involve so many people other than police," said Chief Ed Flynn.

Among the honorees was Mary Lou Navarro who has been a long-time champion for the Clarke Square neighborhood and Longfellow School.

Ms. Navarro is an advocate for the 900 students and their families and has helped increase safety in the community by educating and inspiring those who are part of it.

She broke down when recalling her mother's words that to be part of a community means to serve a community.

Police Captain Boris Turcinovic was honored for his efforts  to attend block watch meetings and organized weekly listening circles with Sherman Park residents. The group identified a need for more youth activities in Sherman Park. He secured soccer goals and along with other officers, he painted a field and organized a "Sports Week". He is a dedicated rugby coach for Divine Savior Holy Angles High School and a loving father.

The mood was tempered a bit when Mayor Tom Barrett spoke of decline in state funding when Milwaukee generates so much tax revenue for the entire state.

"My gripe is for years there was a partnership between the state and local governments, but in the last decade we've seen freezes and drops in shared revenue," said the Mayor. "That means we're going to have to decide if we're going to fund libraries nurses, or are we going to continue to fund the police department."

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Here is the complete list of winners:


AAA Traffic Safety Law Enforcement: Sergeant Carrie Peters
AAA Traffic Safety Award: Cynthia Campbell
The Salvation Army Outstanding Individual Involved in Crime Prevention: Lynn Hines-Levy
Outstanding Greater Milwaukee Partnership in Crime Prevention: Sojourner Family Peace Center 
Outstanding Block Club Involved in Crime Prevention: Protect Our Property
Outstanding Corporation/Business Involved in Crime Prevention
Outstanding Faith Based Organization Involved in Crime Prevention
Outstanding Community Liaison Officer Involved in Crime Prevention: Police Officer Joshua Dummann
Outstanding Community Liaison Officer Involved in Crime Prevention: Police Officer Carlos Felix
Outstanding Professional Contribution to Crime Prevention: Captain Boris Turcinovic
Outstanding Professional Contribution to Crime Prevention: Police Officer Guadalupe Velasquez
Outstanding Crime Prevention Advocate: Mary Lou Navarro

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