In a statement obtained by the City of Milwaukee's official channel, Alderman Burgelis made a resolute plea to the Mayor and the Milwaukee Police Association, pushing for an immediate resolution to their ongoing contract negotiations ahead of potential arbitration. With public safety hanging in the balance, Burgelis called for urgency, declaring, "We need action now, not two months from now, and not two weeks from now," as mentioned on the City of Milwaukee website.
Highlighting the strain on resources and the increasing fragility of the city's public safety, the alderman underscored the necessity for the Police Department to have "every available tool" to recruit, train, and keep the best officers on the beat, as per the City of Milwaukee. The gap between the wage increase proposals from both sides is minimal; with the alderman urging, "GET IT DONE!" There's also a push to extend the labor agreement into a fourth year, covering 2026, which Alderman Burgelis believes is a pivotal investment in the community despite the fiscal pressures it may place on the 2026 city budget.
A recent Public Safety and Health Committee meeting, which drew a crowd exceeding capacity, punctuated the high tensions and seriousness of the staffing issues within the Milwaukee Police Department. Noteworthy was the absence of Chief of Police Jeffrey Norman from the discussions that day. Alderman Burgelis expressed dissatisfaction, noting the Chief's absence despite residents voicing their deep concerns, stating, "Ensuring our officers are fairly compensated and fully staffed is one of the top public safety priorities for our city," according to the City of Milwaukee statement.
The practical implications of these staffing conundrums aren't lost on the districts — even District 6, already thin on patrolling officers, has had to lend support to other areas of the city. The police district was called upon to redirect its officers to other districts at least four times on what was described as a "slow" Tuesday.
