Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Friday, May 16, 2008
Today
Hi: 73
Lo: 51
Sat
Hi: 66
Lo: 46
Sun
Hi: 57
Lo: 41
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
In Politics Briefs
Flynn takes oath as city's top cop
New Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn previously worked in Springfield, Mass.  
By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers

Published Jan. 7, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.
Tags: milwaukee, police chief, edward flynn, nanette hegerty

Edward Flynn was sworn in as Milwaukee's 20th police chief Monday.

Flynn, 59, took the oath of office during a ceremony at City Hall before a group of Milwaukee Police Department officials, politicians, media and other onlookers.

Flynn, who replaces Nanette Hegerty, made the following remarks upon taking the job:

Mayor Barrett, Council President Hines and Chairman Sobczak: thank you for your kind words. Thank you for the confidence you have expressed in me. I will not let you down.

2008 will be an historic year. Certainly that is what the candidates for president are all promising. They also all proclaim that they will bring "change" and that they are in favor of "change." In my experience, being in favor of change is a little like being in favor of gravity. Change will come, whether or not you favor it. The only constant in life is change. The question is how will we respond to inevitable change? The problems of society change in degree and magnitude. The problems of a city change in scope and seriousness. The responsibility for those of us in city government is to anticipate, respond to, and mitigate the negative aspects of change while facilitating and encouraging positive change.

In police work, the more things change the more, in some ways, they remain the same. Although the challenges the police must confront change, our fundamental responsibilities do not. In 1829, Robert Peel, the father of modern policing, stated, "the basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder." The types of crime may change over time. The types of public disorder the police must manage may change over the years. Nonetheless, our responsibility is, no matter what the historical epoch or geographic location to prevent crime and disorder. To those two fundamental purposes of the police a third must also be added, to reduce the level of fear in a community.

I expect the Milwaukee Police Department to be organized and focused on accomplishing that basic mission. We shall reduce the levels of fear, crime and disorder in the City of Milwaukee. Our measure of success will not be the number arrests. Our measure of success will not be the number of traffic citations issues. Our measure of success will not be our response time to non-emergency calls. Our measures of success will be the reduction of crime, fear and disorder in Milwaukee.

To accomplish our mission, we will embrace a community-based, problem-oriented, data-driven policing strategy that emphasizes beat integrity, geographic accountability, the use of problem-solving techniques and a reliance on data to identify threats, measure the results of our interventions, and to hold ourselves accountable; to each other and to our community.

 Page 1 of 3 

Next >>


Post a comment / write a review.

Recent blogs/briefs by OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers
Summerfest unveils lineup for Classic Rock stage
Wednesday
Three Dog Night, Daryl Stuermer, Blondie, Cheap Trick and Earth, Wind and Fire lead a ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Time-wasting Video of the Day: May 13, 2008
Tuesday
In a story today, OnMilwaukee.com staffer Julie Lawrence writes about the Milwaukee team ...

Mayor pitches in to fill potholes
Tuesday
Sure, it's just a PR stunt. But if you'd like to watch Mayor Tom Barrett roll up his sleeves ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. This winning blogger is going to Mexico
Tuesday
Last week was Travel Week at OnMilwaukee.com and we were full of great stories about destinations ...

Guitarist Kottke receiving UWM honorary degree
Monday
Guitarist / composer Leo Kottke gets an honorary doctorate in music performance Sunday ...