Children's Wisconsin–Milwaukee Hospital campus went on lockdown Wednesday as Wauwatosa police investigated a threat, with officers on scene and the public urged to steer clear of the area. The circumstances surrounding the threat remained unclear as the investigation continued.
According to WISN 12 News, the lockdown began before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, though WBAY reported the lockdown started at 1:30 p.m. that same day. Wauwatosa police were on the scene and confirmed to 12 News that the public should avoid the area, including patients, families, off-campus staff, visitors and community members.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Children's Wisconsin – Milwaukee Hospital campus is on lockdown,” according to FOX6 Milwaukee, which also reported that Wauwatosa police were on scene investigating a threat to the campus. The station noted that employees and staff were directed to check their internal communications for updates, and that police had not disclosed the nature of the threat.
Public Asked to Stay Away as Investigation Continues
WTMJ reported that police asked the public to avoid the area as the investigation continued, specifying that the request applied to patients, families, staff not currently on campus, visitors and community members. The outlet also noted that scanner audio from Broadcastify indicated reports of a suspicious person inside the corporate side of the hospital, though that detail was attributed to scanner chatter rather than confirmed by police.
Not the First Lockdown at the Milwaukee Campus
Children's Wisconsin, also known simply as Children's Hospital, has faced campus lockdowns before. In a separate bomb-threat incident, TMJ4 reported that a search of the campus turned up nothing suspicious after the hospital was placed under restricted movement. In another incident, a shooting prompted a lockdown at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin that ended once that situation was resolved, as previously reported by WISN.
No information has been confirmed about injuries, arrests, or whether anyone on campus was in immediate danger during Wednesday's lockdown. Hoodline will continue to follow this developing story as verified details emerge.
