Chief Flynn says Sheriff Clarke's proposal to hire 400 new officers is unrealistic

MILWAUKEE COUNTY -- Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is not holding back. On Friday, June 24th he had some tough words at a public safety hearing on Milwaukee's crime. One idea came with a very specific number -- hire 400 new police officers. Milwaukee Police Chief Flynn says he's not going to feud with the sheriff. He says while 400 officers would be useful, he's not sure the idea is realistic.

Every day in Milwaukee, men and women in blue hit the streets. At a roll call on Friday, they stand together at 27th and Center.

The same day Sheriff Clarke tells city leaders there are too few officers to properly do their jobs.

"They are understaffed and under siege, just keeping up with calls for service," said Sheriff Clarke.

At a special Public Safety Committee meeting, Sheriff Clarke says the first step to reducing crime is hiring 400 new police officers.

"Any successful crime strategy has to come with the proper amount of resources to throw at the problem," said Clarke.

"If folks can find a way to pay for 400 new officers and do it in a way that's fiscally responsible, I'll never turn down officers," said Flynn.

Chief Flynn says more may be better but not realistic.

"It's all thing we'd like to say, it's all things we'd like to see, paying for them -- that's the hard work of governance," said Flynn.

Flynn says adding new officers would also mean adding staff to other areas of the judicial system.

"Certainly having more officers would have a real impact, but it would also produce a lot more work for understaffed DA's, for understaffed courts, understaffed judges, understaffed probation officers," said Flynn.

For now, Flynn says the department will continue what they do with what they have.

"We work hard to make the optimum use of the resources this city can afford to provide," Flynn said.

Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton says the city will take a close look at staffing. One city leader estimated adding new officers would cost about $40 million.