District police stations in Milwaukee should be safe places to conduct everyday business. If you would visit suburban police station, they have better security overall. Most have bullet proof glass in the lobby area plus sometimes you must be even buzzed into the actual lobby. They usually only have a few personnel working inside that inner office area. There might be some officers inside the station with arrests or just doing paperwork.
I believe most people have heard of the incident at District 5 station when a subject came inside wanting information on his friend that had died a few days earlier. He did not get the response he wanted so he started to shoot inside the lobby area. He fled and was captured several blocks away after being shot by officers. The Milwaukee Police Department has announced they will install bullet-resistant glass inside its stations. In a news release it states, “he endangered the safety and well-being of the police officers and civilian employees within the station, as well as the community members in the district lobby.”
The news release continues “in response to this incident, the Milwaukee Police Department immediately explored options to improve its police district station safety by examining best practices, surveying its employees, and reaching out to community members and elected officials. Based on feedback and overwhelming community support, MPD is moving forward with installing bullet-resistant glass at its police districts.”
The total cost for the project will be $260,000 dollars and will be funded through gifts to the Milwaukee Police Foundation. Both Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Police Chief Jeffrey Norman help coordinate the gifts. Police said the security measures will be installed throughout this spring.
This is a notable example f police/citizen cooperation with the police surveying the citizens in the area about their security concerns and getting their input. When they see the bullet-resistant glass going up they will know why and realize their input was considered. Chief Norman should continue to keep these lines of communication open because he will need them in the future.