Milwaukee Police Association and MPA butt heads over city's police recruitment problem 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It’s a war of words between Milwaukee’s Mayor, Police Department, and the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA) after the MPA president claimed the city isn’t doing enough to help recruit police officers. 

MPA’s President Alexander Ayala claimed that only one police officer was patrolling the streets Tuesday night in District 7 — a claim Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and Cavalier Johnson said was simply untrue.  

 “We had officers working that was not reflected in the initial document that was sent out,” said Norman. 

The argument comes on the heels of an officer involved shooting in District 7. 

“I mean, you just keep naming officers that keep getting shot. This is a dangerous job and there’s not enough officers to take care of everything going on in the city. We need more officers,” said Ayala. 

On Thursday night, a 30-year-old officer and a 39-year-old suspect both sustained non-life-threatening injuries near 44th and Hampton. The officer was discharged Friday morning, June 13. 

“I mean my members are the ones that are paying the price,” said Ayala. 

He says the city isn’t doing enough to get more officers on the street. 

“MPD is critically understaffed. We’re about 200 officers short. We’re about 50 detectives short. And these academy classes that are supposed to be filled with 65 recruit officers are not,” said Ayala. 

Mayor Johnson didn’t hold back when responding to Ayala’s claims. 

“To say that we’re lackadaisical as it relates to recruiting in the police department is ludicrous. It’s absolutely ludicrous,” said Johnson. 

Johnson says the city has regular recruitment classes with up to 65 officers in each class. 

“To say that we don’t take recruiting seriously is a laughable matter quite frankly. I’m not happy with the union saying what they did about that,” said Johnson. 

Ayala says those classes aren’t full and says part of the reason is braise patrol officers are still operating under 2022 wages. 

“I believe it’s our low wages. We’ve been out of a contract for three years,” said Ayala. 

A statement from the mayor’s office sent to CBS 58 says is part, “cities all across the country are facing headwinds in their hiring efforts. And Milwaukee Police compensation is already competitive…the City would certainly like to conclude the contract process as soon as possible.”