MPD Chief Ed Flynn addresses crime numbers after newspaper report
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn held a news conference Wednesday evening, May 23rd at 5:00 p.m. to discuss crime numbers in Milwaukee. This comes after a newspaper investigation reportedly found the Milwaukee Police Department has misreported crime numbers.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel probe found that since 2009, the department has reported more than 500 incidents that qualify as aggravated assaults to the FBI as simple assaults.
The misreporting has the effect of driving down the city's violent crime rate. If the department had properly classified last year's incidents, the violent crime rate would have risen 1.1 percent instead of falling 2.3 percent, as Chief Edward Flynn announced.
According to the Milwaukee Police Department's website "The Source," Flynn was interviewed by a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter for the story that was published Wednesday. MPD has provided video of that interview, and says the Journal Sentinel reporter "came to the interview not with sincere questions to be answered, but with a premise to be proven: the Milwaukee Police Department is lying about its crime numbers."
MPD says..."The newspaper story identified errors in the way some crimes are being reported to the FBI. The story did not identify errors in the way crimes are being investigated. Or errors in the way crimes are being referred to prosecutors. Or errors in the way victims are being treated."
CLICK HERE for more re: Milwaukee Police Department's "The Source."
Wednesday, Chief Flynn said his department does make mistakes, but blamed human error. Flynn strongly denied any malicious changing of data.
"I categorically reject any notion that there is a nexus between how a report is coded for uniform crime purposes and how it is investigated and prosecuted. I think it was disingenuous and borderline cynical to link coding errors to how cases were investigated and prosecuted. I have absolute faith in the integrity of this organization. Human error is not the same as the malicious change of data," Chief Flynn said.
Chief Flynn said there are now two audits on his department - one internal and one being performed by the FBI - something he requested.
Regardless of any computer error, Chief Flynn said he still believes the crime rate has gone down in Milwaukee. He cited dramatic declines in homicides and car thefts.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Executive Editor Martin Kaiser released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:
“Our stories on the misreporting of serious crimes as lesser offenses are the result of a thorough and meticulous investigation. The FBI agreed that the incidents we wrote about were misreported, as did outside criminal justice experts – and Milwaukee Police officials. Presenting a distorted view of crime in the city does not serve the public. We will continue to seek access to additional records to provide a complete view of crime patterns, and to sort out why these errors occurred. So far, we have only had access to about 20% of total reported incidents – the ones reviewed by prosecutors. We cannot compare the data to a previous period in Milwaukee in part because the department has resisted our efforts to obtain public documents. Police and city officials should expedite full release of the information so the public knows the truth behind their numbers.”
Alderman Bob Donovan Wednesday said he is calling for a city audit of the police numbers. "I have a lot of respect for Ed Flynn. I think overall he's done a wonderful job in Milwaukee, but this is a concern. I think it's important that we take a look at things, and make sure everything is being done appropriately," Donovan said.
Even candidates in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race weighed in on the crime number issue Wednesday.
"I'm going to stand behind Chief Flynn because we continue to see a huge drop in homicides in the city of Milwaukee over the last four years, and we've also seen a drop in violent crime," Milwaukee Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor Tom Barrett said.
"There have still been some significant missteps when it comes to public safety. It's why the men and women who work for the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee Fire Department have endorsed me," Gov. Scott Walker said.
"I respect the fact that we're in the middle of a political campaign. There's a lot of hay being made about Milwaukee's crime rates and the issues that affect the largest city in this state, but I'm not gonna confuse those political reindeer games with our obligations," Chief Flynn said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.