Police looking to combat latest string of gun violence

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police are investigating four overnight shooting incidents that occurred Tuesday, July 17th. Three were injured and one was killed. This violent night came following two homicides in the city of Milwaukee on Monday, July 16th, and two shooting incidents overnight on Saturday, July 14th. In light of the recent string of violence, Milwaukee police officials say these incidents could affect how they deploy their officers.

Between 8:00 p.m. and midnight Tuesday, officers were called to gunfire on 26th Street, 24th and North, 39th and Hampton and 18th and Atkinson.

"These particular incidents from overnight were scattered throughout the city. There was no connection or linkage to those individual events with one another," MPD Assistant Chief James Harpole said.

Harpole says every morning, police analyze crime data from overnight and decide where to send foot patrol officers and squad cars.

Harpole says the hot weather may be partly to blame.

"It's summer. It's been warm, and we've had a period of warm, dry weather. We know that during those periods of time, we see an increase generally in crime. We've seen periods in the past where we've had that kind of activity in a single day and a single week and a single short period of time, but we also go for days and days where we see very few violent crime incidents and very few shootings as well, so that's why it's so important for us to try and stay in front of what's going on," Harpole said.

Harpole says studying overnight data is a key part of MPD's strategy for curbing violence, along with community cooperation.

Milwaukee Alderman Willie Hines says there are too many guns in Milwaukee, and they are in the hands of the irresponsible.

"We just need to have cooler heads prevail and ask our residents -- let's not resort to gunfire," Hines said.

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