Community Policing

Community Policing is defined by the U.S. Department of Justice as a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.

The report entitled "Community Policing Defined" highlights (1) community partnerships, (2) organizational transformation and, (3) problem solving as the three key components.

In the Near West Side, Community Policing is key to addressing factors that create environments that lead to crime, social disorder and perceptions. Of course, the key partner in this effort is the Milwaukee Police Department and its problem-solving, bicycle and foot beat patrol officers. We are fortunate to have a great partnership with MPD’s District Three. Another set of key partners to this effort in the Near West Side is Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and his Community Prosecution Unit that works in close coordination with Safe and Sound and a data analyst from the Medical College of Wisconsin. These key partners work with the Milwaukee Police Department to improve collective neighborhood efficacy through various person-based and place-based strategies. As these strategies are deployed, the CPU also works to promote the many assets of the seven neighborhoods that comprise the Near West Side.

Deputy District Attorney Jeff Altenburg and Assistant District Attorney Catelin Ringersma lead the charge by working behind the scenes meeting with negative impact property owners, supporting resident groups, and presenting to community stakeholders. Jeff Altenburg is more than just a Deputy District Attorney; for the past 15+ years, he has introduced and shaped the Community Prosecution Unit (CPU) in the City of Milwaukee. His team of attorneys, which includes ADA Ringersma, work with MPD and its many partners to improve communities across the seven neighborhoods.

These ADAs provide guidance on strategies, work as liaisons between Milwaukee Police Department and ultimately prosecute the offenders. Since Jeff and his team are embedded in the communities they serve, they get to know and support the community stakeholders while identifying and dealing with the those non-violent offenders who are in need of interventions that involve addiction and mental health treatment while at the same time working to incapacitate those violent offenders through traditional criminal prosecution techniques.

A key part of the the CPU team is the Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator (CPUC). In the Near West Side, the CPUC is hired by Safe and Sound, a very strong community based partner whose mission is to unite residents, youth, law enforcement and community resources to build safe and empowered neighborhoods.

Bobby McQuay is the NWSP's CPUC and he is a great asset working with Jeff, Catelin and the Milwaukee Police Department to improve the neighborhood efficacy. Bobby works more closely with residents and business owners. He provides the direct contact to the CPU and the Milwaukee Police Department. In addition, Bobby, Jeff and Catelin work closely with the NWSP's data analyst, Brandon Dupont, to tailor strategies in response to the needs of the community.

The CPU team is NWSP's key strategy in community policing efforts. This team works closely with MPD, the anchor institutions and the many neighborhood stakeholders to learn, develop and support strategies that support a safer community.

Recently, an aggressive panhandler who had plagued the neighborhood for close to a decade was recorded on surveillance cameras by a local business. Jeff used that surveillance footage and the documented complaints from the community to use the leverage of the criminal justice system to convince this individual to accept substance abuse and mental health treatment resources at a local provider while at the same time agreeing to geographical restrictions from the areas in the Near West Side where he had engaged in nuisance activities.

In another situation, a business owner was not properly training employees on how to deal with aggressive panhandling and loitering. Jeff and Bobby are now providing training to this business owner and others to give them the tools to deal these challenges. These strategies assist in lowering Milwaukee police calls for service and ultimately save taxpayers money.

In conclusion, the Milwaukee Police Department and the Community Prosecution Unit are very important to the safety strategy of the Near West Side Partners. The funding for the Near West Side Community Prosecution Unit comes from our anchor institutions so its continuity for the near future is assured. However, the Community Prosecutor positions in other neighborhoods are funded by the United States government and due to an apparent cut or delay in this funding, the District Attorney’s Office will need to pull the three community prosecutors for MPD DIstricts 1,3 and 7 at the end of this week. This will greatly impact those neighborhoods in the City of Milwaukee. If you are interested in sharing your support for federal funding for this program, please contact the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office at 414-278-5057.

There is more to come as we will continue to share the many success stories of our Community Prosecution Unit.