A Closer Look at Violent Crime in Milwaukee

 

West Palm Beach, Fl - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a city that sparkles with charm and character. Known as Cream City for its historic cream-colored brick buildings, Brew City for its rich beer-making heritage, and The City of Festivals for its vibrant summer events along Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is a place that captures hearts. Picture the roar of a Harley-Davidson cruising down the street, the laughter of festival-goers at Summerfest, or the nostalgic charm of Laverne & Shirley, the iconic show set in a 1950s brewery, where two friends navigated life with humor and grit. It’s a city that feels like a warm embrace, steeped in culture, community, and Midwestern pride.

But beneath the surface of this lively, welcoming city lies a reality that doesn’t make it into the travel guides or lifestyle spreads. Milwaukee is grappling with a quieter, more sobering issue: violent crime. It’s a topic that often stays in the shadows, rarely discussed amid the city’s celebrated festivals or cozy brewery tours. Yet, it’s a truth that shapes the lives of many residents and deserves a closer look.

"People picture the festivals, the lakefront, and maybe a Harley-Davidson roaring down the road," says Patrick O’Donnell, a retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant, author, and podcaster. "But the violent crime? That doesn’t make the postcards."

O’Donnell knows the city’s streets well. Born to Irish immigrant parents in Chicago, he spent 25 years with the Milwaukee Police Department, responding to some of the city’s most harrowing incidents.

"I’ve been on the scene of everything you can imagine, from homicides to sexual assaults and robberies," O’Donnell shares. "When I was still in field training, I arrested a suspect at gunpoint during a stabbing investigation. That one turned into a death investigation."

Milwaukee’s crime statistics paint a sobering picture. Once ranked among America’s ten most dangerous large cities in 2001 and 2007, Milwaukee continues to grapple with high levels of homicide, robbery, and aggravated assault. In 2015 alone, 146 lives were lost to homicide, a figure that shocked even longtime residents.

"Milwaukee is a great city, but like any big city, it has its struggles," O’Donnell reflects. "That’s the reality behind the Instagram posts."

These days, O’Donnell channels his experience into the Cops and Writers brand. His podcast and books pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to work in law enforcement, offering crime writers and curious listeners a rare glimpse behind the badge.

"I want crime writers to get it right," he says. "And I want listeners to understand what really happens out there."

With over ten books to his name, including his latest, The Good Collar, and a Facebook group of more than 7,500 members, O’Donnell connects with fans, writers, and fellow officers across the world. Look for updates on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major social media platforms.

"Social media gives us a way to shine a light on the parts of policing that the news doesn’t cover," he explains.

While Milwaukee is home to corporate giants like Harley-Davidson, Rockwell Automation, and Johnson Controls, and boasts a proud cultural and industrial history, the city continues to battle violent crime, a side of the story that’s too often ignored.

"It’s the human side of policing that no one talks about," O’Donnell adds. "But that’s where the real stories are."

For those eager to see beyond the breweries and lakefront festivals, Patrick O’Donnell’s work offers an unflinching look at Milwaukee’s struggles, and the men and women who confront them every day. His books, podcast, and social media presence remind us that behind every crime statistic is a person, a family, and sometimes, a hero who’s lived it.

You can listen to Patrick O’Donnell’s full interview on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major platforms. 

Attributions

Milwaukee

Wikipedia

Cops and Writers

City of Milwaukee Police

 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arrest of Corrections Officer, They Settled The Lawsuit

Image
  West Palm Beach, Fl - He dedicated over two decades of his life to serving our country, only to find yourself wrongfully accused by the very people he worked alongside. For Ian Murray, a U.S. military veteran and former corrections officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), this wasn’t just a hypothetical scenario, it was his reality. After years of legal battles, Murray recently reached a settlement with the JSO, bringing some resolution to a nightmare that began with a wrongful arrest. Murray’s ordeal started like a scene from a bad dream: a knock on his door from JSO officers in tactical gear, there to arrest him on felony theft charges linked to his military leave. The accusations spread like wildfire. Local media jumped on the story, social media lit up with chatter, and podcasts began dissecting the case. Murray’s career and reputation, built over years of service, took a devastating hit as doubts about his integrity swirled. “It was devastating,” Murray said in ...
Read more

‘12’ or ‘Pigs’ the History of Anti-Police Slang

Image
  West Palm Beach, Fl - If you’ve scrolled through social media, binge-watched TV shows, or tuned into podcasts recently, chances are you’ve stumbled across someone referring to the police as “12” or “pigs.” These terms pop up everywhere, from song lyrics to protest signs to casual chats, and they’ve been around for decades, still stirring the pot today. But where did they come from, and what do they reveal about society’s relationship with law enforcement? From Farmyard Insult to Political Statement Let’s kick things off with “pig,” a term most people recognize. While it might feel like a quintessentially American jab, its origins actually stretch back to England. “The insult goes back to 19th century England,” says cultural historian Dr. Lydia Markham. “It was used to describe someone greedy or morally lacking. Eventually, it narrowed in on the police.” The term gained serious traction in the United States during the turbulent 1960s, a time of social upheaval and anti-establishme...
Read more

A Survivor's Journey from Trauma to Advocacy

Image
  In the depths of our darkest experiences sometimes lies the seed of our greatest purpose. Nate Lewis's story demonstrates how personal wounds, when acknowledged and healed, can become wellsprings of strength and compassion for others. When trauma touches lives at a young age, it often shapes paths in ways not fully comprehended until years later. For Nate Lewis, founder of The Innocent, a nonprofit fighting child sex trafficking and exploitation, this journey from victim to advocate exemplifies how personal pain can transform into powerful purpose. The Silence of Childhood Trauma "I kept it buried for so long, but it affected everything, my choices, my safety, my entire world," Lewis recently shared on the " Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast ," revealing how sexual abuse at just 12 years old set him on a troubling path. "I didn't even know what sex was at that time. I hadn't had the talk with my parents, and sex education wasn't even...
Read more