Milwaukee, WI
MPD data: Homicides declined in 2024, but other crimes on the rise
MILWAUKEE — According to recently released data from the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), Milwaukee experienced a 39% drop in homicides from 2022 to 2024.
In 2022, the City of Milwaukee recorded a staggering 215 murders. In 2023, the city had 172 murders. In 2024, that number fell to 132 – the lowest the city has seen in five years.
Between 2023 and 2024, the city saw a 23% decrease in homicides.
MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman said that while the decline signaled progress, there is still much work to do.
“Yes, we had double-digit reductions, but it could be even more,” Norman said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “Many of those homicides involved kids with handguns, tragically using them against each other. It’s preventable and absolutely unacceptable.”
Despite the promising decline in homicides, other crime categories, including carjackings, auto thefts and robberies, saw increases compared to 2023.
Norman acknowledged the complexity of addressing these trends, noting that the department’s ability to respond is hindered by a staffing shortage.
Another issue dominating the public safety conversation is the role of school resource officers in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). Norman stated that discussions with school leaders are ongoing, but Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson expressed frustration with the financial burden falling on taxpayers.
“When you go to a restaurant and order a meal, the chef doesn’t prepare the meal and then pay the bill,” Johnson said. “That’s essentially what we’re being asked to do, and I think it’s wrong for taxpayers and the City of Milwaukee. We will continue working with MPS leadership to get this sorted out.”
Police staffing remains another critical challenge, according to the department. MPD fell short of its recruitment goals in 2024. Under a newly enacted state law, Milwaukee’s state funding is now tied to the city growing its police force over the next decade.
Christian Yelich says Jacob Misiorowski is ‘1 of 1’
Christian Yelich calls Jacob Misiorowski ‘1 of 1’ while discussing his dominance in a 5-1 Memorial Day victory over the Cardinals.
The Milwaukee Brewers are going for a sweep over the division rival St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on May 27, looking to put even more distance between the rest of the National League Central and first place.
The Brewers came into the game with a 3½-game lead over second-place St. Louis, an advantage that grew by allowing just one run over two games in back-to-back victories. The red-hot Brewers are 16-6 in May and have won 19 of their last 26.
After elite performances from Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison, Wednesday will present a different challenge with the team lacking a true starting pitcher; Logan Henderson went on the injured list with a back ailment May 26, and though the team recalled starter Coleman Crow, the club said Crow would start Friday in the series opener in Houston. That meant a bullpen game May 27.
What time is the Brewers game today?
Time: 12:40 p.m.
What channel is the Brewers game on?
Channel: Brewers.TV
Brewers announce starting pitcher for finale against Cardinals
With Henderson landing on the injured list, the Brewers are employing a bullpen-game strategy against St. Louis on May 27. The first guy out of the bullpen: Chad Patrick.
Patrick (2-2, 2.63 ERA) started the year in the rotation but has been huge out of the bullpen. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last five outings, covering nearly 10 innings.
Expect to see Shane Drohan at some point, as well.
The Cardinals will send out right-hander Dustin May (3-5, 5.00 ERA).
Brewers 2026 record entering Wednesday
32-20
National League Central standings
The Central remains the only division in baseball with all five teams above .500. The Cubs, having lost 10 consecutive games, have fallen into a tie for last place after leading the division before the skid began.
- Milwaukee Brewers, 32-20
- St. Louis Cardinals, 29-24 (3.5 games back)
- Cincinnati Reds, 29-25 (4 games back)
- Chicago Cubs, 29-26 (4.5 games back)
- Pittsburgh Pirates, 29-26 (4.5 games back)
Brewers lineup
- Christian Yelich DH
- Jackson Chourio LF
- Brice Turang 2B
- William Contreras C
- Jake Bauers 1B
- Garrett Mitchell CF
- Luis Rengifo 3B
- Sal Frelick RF
- David Hamilton SS
Cardinals lineup
- JJ Wetherholt 2B
- Iván Herrera DH
- Alec Burleson 1B
- Jordan Walker RF
- Nolan Gorman 3B
- Masyn Winn SS
- Bryan Torres LF
- Pedro Pagés C
- Victor Scott II CF
Brewers probable pitchers, schedule
The Astros have not announced their probable pitchers for the weekend series against Milwaukee. Former Brewers pitcher Jason Alexander last threw May 26 but has struggled (1-1, 9.33). Beleaguered MLB newcomer Tatsuya Imai pitched May 25, throwing six innings at the front end of a combined no-hitter for the Astros. He has a 6.17 ERA through six outings, though.
The Brewers will quickly return home after the weekend series in Texas.
- Brewers at Astros, May 29, 7:10 p.m. CT: Milwaukee RHP Coleman Crow (0-0, 2.61 ERA) vs. Houston TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
- Brewers at Astros, May 30, 3:10 p.m. CT: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Sproat (1-3, 5.84 ERA) vs Houston TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
- Brewers at Astros, May 31, 1:10 p.m. CT. Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 1.83 ERA) vs. Houston TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
- Brewers vs. Giants, June 1, 6:40 p.m. CT. Pitchers TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Milwaukee police are seeking help in locating a critically missing 15-year-old girl.
Kan’liya N. Hillard is described as a Black girl who is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 108 pounds.
She was last seen near West Michigan Street and North Eighth Street at around 1:30 p.m. on May 26. At the time, her hair was in braids on the left side and curly full hair on the right side. She was wearing glasses and her school uniform shirt, which is a light colored polo, along with khaki pants and white shoes.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department District 7 at 414-935-7272.
Westmoreland describes new state law targeting reckless drivers
Milwaukee Alderman Lamont Westmoreland, flanked by Common Council colleagues and Milwaukee Police Department Assistant Chief Craig Sarnow, discusses a pending state law that will allow police to crack down on reckless drivers.
A 39-year-old was killed and a 19-year-old was arrested in a two-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after midnight May 26 in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood.
Milwaukee police say the collision occurred around 12:12 a.m. on the 4600 block of West Roosevelt Drive. A sedan, driven by a 19-year-old man, was traveling eastbound on Fond du Lac Avenue when it struck a three-wheeled motorcycle headed westbound on Roosevelt Drive.
Depsite lifesaving efforts, the 39-year-old motorcycle driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The driver was arrested, with a charge of operating without a license causing death referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, police said.
The medical examiner’s office has not yet released the identity of the victim.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.
-
Florida6 minutes agoFlorida Highway Patrol responds to major Turnpike crash near Exit 133 in Stuart
-
Georgia12 minutes agoJosh Brooks defends Georgia football’s ‘sweet spot’ scheduling model
-
Hawaii18 minutes agoHonolulu Fire Department to open firefighter recruit applications
-
Idaho24 minutes agoIdaho AAA, ITD urge drivers to watch for motorcycles as summer travel ramps up
-
Illinois30 minutes agoIllinois Lawmakers Just Passed America’s Strongest AI Safety Bill
-
Indiana36 minutes agoSouth Bend muralist’s work could be on new Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center
-
Iowa42 minutes agoFormer Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic withdraws from 2026 NBA Draft
-
Kansas48 minutes agoOn the road again: Arkansas baseball heads to Kansas after brief stop in Fayetteville | Whole Hog Sports
