Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee fire chief says foot searches will be required after Jolene Waldref’s death
See ambulance response to Milwaukee woman who died of hypothermia
After receiving a 911 call about a woman who hit her head near a bus stop in subzero temperatures, crew members with the private Curtis Ambulance service did not get out of their truck to look for the woman, whose body was obscured by a snowbank.
William Garrett
For just over the last week, first responders with the Milwaukee Fire Department and the city’s two private ambulance companies have been expected to conduct foot searches any time a patient is not immediately located, Fire Chief Aaron Lipski told a city committee Thursday.
The chief called that a “stop-gap” measure while he and other emergency medical service officials scrambled to update standard operating guidelines after the death of Jolene Waldref at a busy intersection in subzero temperatures in January.
“We are reeling in the wake of this,” Lipski said in front of Milwaukee’s Public Safety and Health Committee. “We are feeling a tremendous amount of pressure to make this right.”
That pressure was turned up last week when the Milwaukee Common Council passed a resolution urging Lipski to make or examine a series of protocol changes meant to prevent the situation from happening again.
To emphasize the urgency, the council also delayed approval of an amendment to contracts with the city’s two private ambulance companies, which as a result has created a “cashflow issue” for those companies, one official said.
Although Lipski did not have a written draft of any protocol changes to share Thursday, he and officials from Bell Ambulance and Curtis Ambulance Service assured committee members they were on the same page and would satisfy the council’s desires. He said one of Waldref’s daughters has been involved in the process.
The nearly 90 minutes of dialogue was enough to convince the committee to recommend the full council approve the ambulance service contracts. The council next meets Feb. 27.
But Council President José Pérez made it clear that if the written changes were not satisfying, the contracts “will get held again.”
Here’s what you should know about the current state of things:
Waldref died despite ambulance responding to her location
Waldref, a 49-year-old mother of two from South Milwaukee, died Jan. 15 after calling 911 and reporting she couldn’t breathe as she waited near a bus stop at the busy intersection of North 76th and West Congress streets in subzero temperatures.
A Curtis Ambulance was dispatched but its crew did not see her lying on the ground near the intersection’s northwest corner. The crew eventually left the scene after driving through the intersection twice and not searching on foot, drawing backlash from the public and elected officials.
James Baker, the president of Curtis Ambulance, has since asserted that city dispatchers did not tell his ambulance crew that Waldref couldn’t breathe. That meant the ambulance crew – trained for basic life support – was dispatched thinking the call was not an emergency and did not have lights and sirens on.
Baker said Waldref’s call should have yielded a more urgent response.
Waldref ended up staying on the ground for more than 20 minutes until a driver stopped and called 911 again. That driver, Charlotte Morris of Milwaukee, said it was not hard to see Waldref.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the death as a probable case of hypothermia. A final cause is pending results of a toxicology test.
Required foot searches expected as part of protocol changes
Fire and ambulance officials said that right now, all emergency medical service first responders have been told to use common sense and exit their vehicles when they arrive at a scene and cannot immediately see anyone in an emergency.
Lipski said that a formal update to their standard operating guidelines will instruct responders to conduct foot searches during extreme weather or when “environmental conditions or obstructions create impaired or reduced visibility at or around the location or landmark to which responders are dispatched.”
He said extreme weather conditions would include advisories and warnings for windchill, heat, winter storms, blizzards, ice storms, dense fog, air quality and snow squalls.
Responders will be instructed to interact with dispatch to re-establish contact with the caller, interact with bystanders in the area and activate lights and sirens to announce their arrival.
Other potential changes still taking shape
The resolution passed by the council last week urged Lipski to review “available and future technologies” for locating 911 callers who are using cellphones.
Lipski told the committee officials were not as far along on that and were still in an “analysis phase.”
He said one complicating factor is that the city’s dispatch service is scheduled to begin using a different computer aided dispatch software on Feb. 20 – the conclusion of a yearslong and bumpy effort by the city to switch software.
He added that officials are exploring how the new software could lead to quicker and easier information sharing with private ambulance companies.
The resolution also called for Lipski to review chances at enhancing the response for emergencies occurring outdoors in extreme weather events. Baker said previously that in years past, even low priority calls would result in a fire engine accompanying an ambulance to a scene if there was extreme weather.
That practice ended during the pandemic after concerns that it drained too many resources.
Thursday, Lipski said there are discussions about increasing the number of units that respond to patients who are outdoors in extreme weather, but they are still wary of the resource drain.
“We desperately want to avoid another tragedy, so striking that balance is going to be very important,” he said.
Lipski said there are few model policies that the council is asking for
Waldref’s death is unlike anything Lipski said he has ever seen before in his field. He joined the fire department in 1997.
He said he checked with others in the profession across the state and nation and “there are not many EMS providers that have a specific policy like this. It has just been assumed that when you get (to a scene) you do a thorough search.”
Alan DeYoung, the executive director of the Wisconsin EMS Association, told the Journal Sentinel in early February that protocols for searching for a patient generally aren’t specific.
Officials apologize about the January press conference
The controversy around Waldref’s death was inflamed after a Jan. 30 press conference where officials not only admitted ambulance crews did not search on foot for Waldref, but Baker said no changes in protocol were necessary.
No other official, including those from the fire department, contradicted him.
Thursday, both Lipski and Baker apologized for how the press conference was handled and several times offered condolences to Waldref’s family and friends.
Lipski took responsibility for the “failed structuring” of the event.
“I will certainly, moving forward, work to ensure that action items for improvement are included when a system lapse has been identified,” he said. “The delay this will cause in the public release of information most definitely pales in comparison to doing this any other way.”
Baker later said, “I would also like to personally apologize for my performance at the press conference. I was looking at this in a very technical way and lost some of my compassion doing that.”
Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on X at @elliothughes12.
July 3 drone show at McKinley Beach
Watch the first-ever July 3 drone show at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee County will again opt for drones over fireworks for its Independence Day festivities this summer.
The county had its first-ever Fourth of July drone show in 2025, with officials saying at the time that drones would be better for the environment, safer and less costly than fireworks.
The show costs about $150,000 less than fireworks, Milwaukee County officials told the Journal Sentinel this week.
“Milwaukee County is at its best when we come together to create memorable, inclusive experiences for everyone,” County Executive David Crowley said in an April news release. “This drone show is another example of how we’re investing in our parks, our neighborhoods and our shared sense of community pride.”
How did residents react to last year’s drone show?
Milwaukee County Parks Executive Director Guy Smith said in a news release last year the show is “an exciting and environmentally conscious way to celebrate our community.”
“Unlike traditional fireworks, drone shows reduce noise and air pollution while still delivering an unforgettable experience,” Smith said. “It’s about making memories and ensuring everyone feels welcome in these shared spaces.”
But the Journal Sentinel polled readers after last year’s show and a majority responded that they would prefer the county bring back fireworks.
This year’s show will debut pyrotechnic drone technology, adding spark effect for an “even more dynamic and visually stunning performance,” the news release says.
How long is the Milwaukee drone show?
The show is 45 minutes long and features 900 drones, county officials said. It is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. July 3 along the lakefront at McKinley Beach.
Milwaukee police audit shows Flock camera uses
The Milwaukee Police Department released a sample Flock camera audit showing outlier uses tied to serious crimes as scrutiny continues over officer misuse and community privacy concerns.
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department is giving the public a closer look at how officers use license plate reader cameras, part of an effort to be more transparent about how the technology affects community safety.
What we know:
For the first time, FOX6 got a look at a sample of audit results from the MPD involving the license plate reader system, also known as Flock.
The transparency effort comes after former officer Josue Ayala was charged with using the license plate readers to track someone he was dating and that person’s ex. Earlier this month, the department said a second officer was under investigation for possible misuse of the Flock camera system.
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On Thursday, May 28, FOX6 obtained MPD’s Flock audit report from April. It is something the department does every month.
In the report, MPD shared 24 “outlier uses” of the system. Those are possible red flags. The list is not all of them, but it gives a glimpse into how MPD uses the Flock system and how the department checks for misuse.
Of the 24 outlier uses, some plate numbers were associated with a wanted homicide suspect, a felony narcotics trafficking suspect and a suspect vehicle used in the abduction of a 5-year-old. According to the audit, that vehicle was located, the child was returned safely and a suspect was arrested.
The audit also listed a homicide investigation in which detectives developed plate numbers for both a suspect and victim, as well as a plate connected to a person wanted for second-degree sexual assault who was later arrested.
What they’re saying:
“Those audit logs are what was used to hold the officer accountable,” said Paris Lewbel, Flock Safety spokesperson.
Lewbel said Flock Safety is partnered with 220 law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin.
“We think it is important that communities are talking about their technology and how they use it,” Lewbel said.
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The company does not release how many cameras there are, but Lewbel said there have been fewer than 15 misuse cases across the country among the 140,000 users on the platform.
“Within the FLOCK system from day one, we built an immutable audit log in the system that allows law enforcement command staff and internal affairs in these cases to be able to see exactly what is being searched in the law enforcement system and FLOCK system specifically,” Lewbel said.
Dig deeper:
In Milwaukee, license plate readers have faced pushback from people who fear the data could be misused. Critics have called the system an invasion of privacy, saying it tracks innocent people as the debate over how the cameras are used continues.
FOX6 asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday whether the second officer under investigation had been charged. The office replied, “not at this time.”
What you can do:
The full list of outliers from the audit is available on the FOX Local app.
The Source: FOX6 obtained the Milwaukee Police Department’s Flock audit report and utilized prior coverage.
Every week, Milwaukee With Kids answers a simple question for families across the area: What are we going to do this weekend? From indoor activities to outdoor adventures, we’ve got you covered. For the full weekend list, make sure to visit the Milwaukee With Kids website.
Featured event
Summer Reading Kickoff
Milwaukee Public Library | Central Branch
May 30 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Kick off a summer of learning with hands-on activities for kids and teens, special exhibits and early registration for the summer reading program. Special guests and partners include Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Discovery World, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum and Urban Ecology Center.
Up close with animals
Summer Exhibit: Powerful Pollinators
Milwaukee County Zoo
Through Oct. 4
Explore life-sized animatronic pollinators and discover how the Zoo helps protect them through native gardens, honeybee hives, and conservation initiatives. Entry fee: $4 after general zoo admission.
Raptor Encounter
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center | Bayside
May 30 | 1-2 p.m.
Come to the Great Hall to see two birds from the nature center’s raptor program. During this meet-and-greet experience, you can talk with raptor handlers about the specific skills, traits and adaptations that are unique to that bird. The program educates about raptor ecology, conservation and these birds’ important roles in the ecosystem, with an emphasis on hawks, owls, eagles and falcons, plus an American Crow. Free with membership or admission.
Strong body, strong mind
MKE REC Family Day of Play
Wick Playfield
May 30 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Families are invited to enjoy 10+ engaging activities, including an obstacle course, bubble bash, lava land, crafts, games and various types of sports equipment available for free play. The day also features delicious food available for purchase, raffle drawings for amazing prizes and live music filling the air. You’re welcome to bring a picnic lunch, but a limited number of tables and chairs will be available, so bring your own if you have them.
Moms Mental Health Initiative Summer Social
Wilson Park
May 30 | 9 a.m.-Noon
The fifth annual event doubles as a celebration of MMHI’s 10 years supporting the strength of the organization’s participants and the immeasurable power of togetherness. Funds raised from the silent auction, pluck-a-duck, raffle and donations will allow MMHI to continue offering hope and help to perinatal people struggling in Southeast Wisconsin and Dane County.
Music and movement
MSO Sensory-Friendly Concert: Musical Influencers
Bradley Symphony Center
May 31 | 2:30 p.m.
Good times and great music will be trending as onstage influencers from Pink Umbrella Theater introduce you to some of the most influential composers of all time. This special performance is designed for people of any age on the autism spectrum or with a sensory sensitivity and their families, but all are welcome!
Concert modifications include dimmed house lights remaining on during the performance, flexible seating, relaxed house rules, on-stage hosts, available sensory kits, noise-reduction headphones, quiet areas, concert social narratives and more. Patrons are encouraged to come early and enjoy an hour of special pre-concert activities.
Kid Boogie Down
The Cooperage
May 31 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Get your groove on as DJ Lukewarm introduces young audiences to genres ranging from classic disco and funk to modern hits synced with matching music videos. Plus, you’ll enjoy lots of kid-friendly fun: music, foggy bubbles, videos, temporary tattoos, a ring toss, snacks, cotton candy, and a vintage clothing and toy pop-up shop. Grab a four-pack of tickets for a $10+ discount.
Ferns, fossils and trees
FernGully: The Last Rainforest
Oriental Theatre
May 30-31 | Noon
Enjoy this family-friendly classic as Milwaukee Film wraps up its “Ani-May” movie series. When a sprite named Crysta shrinks a human boy named Zak down to her size, he vows to help the magical fairy folk stop a greedy logging company from destroying their home: the pristine rainforest known as FernGully. Zak and his new friends fight to defend FernGully from lumberjacks and the vengeful spirit they accidentally unleash after chopping down a magic tree.
Tree Climbing Festival
Riveredge Nature Center | Saukville
May 30 | 10 a.m.-Noon
Encounter the giants of the forest and explore trees from a new perspective as you climb into the canopy under the guidance of trained facilitators. Adults and children ages 7+ are invited to ascend to the top, swing from a branch or try a “bat hang.” Registration for this event includes 20 minutes of climb time, a scavenger hunt along the trails a naturalist-led hands-on nature investigation and access to picnic areas for lunch (please pack a lunch and be mindful of single-use plastic waste).
Family Fossil Hunting
Kenosha Public Museum
May 30 | 10 a.m.-Noon
Join Nick Wiersum from the Dinosaur Discovery Museum to explore the local fossils of Kenosha’s lakeshore. Meet at the museum to learn about the prehistoric life that called this area home and discuss how to locate fossils, then head out to the Simmon’s Island beach house to collect fossils of your own! The museum will provide you with any tools you will need, including a collection bag, fossil guide and magnifying glass.
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