Milwaukee Mayor Names New Violence Prevention Czar After Surprise Resignation

Karin Tyler, a longtime city employee, will lead the newly formed Department of Community Wellness and Safety.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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After the surprise resignation of the previous violence prevention czar, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson has nominated Karin Tyler to lead the city's newly formed Department of Community Wellness and Safety. Tyler was a finalist for the role in 2025 but was passed over for Adam Procell, who later resigned after just five months on the job due to a previously unknown provision in the Wisconsin Constitution that barred him from leading a city department due to a past criminal conviction.

Why it matters

The Department of Community Wellness and Safety plays a key role in Milwaukee's violence prevention efforts, including partnering with the Medical College of Wisconsin on a neighborhood-level violence interruption program and providing grants to community organizations. Tyler's appointment comes at a critical time as the city looks to address ongoing public safety concerns.

The details

Tyler, who has worked with the city's violence prevention activities for nearly a decade, was given the interim title when Procell's resignation became effective on Feb. 11. She previously led the operation after Ashanti Hamilton resigned in January 2025, until Procell was hired in August. The department was created in 2008 as the Office of Violence Prevention and has been led by several different directors over the years.

  • On Feb. 11, Adam Procell's resignation as violence prevention czar became effective.
  • In January 2025, Ashanti Hamilton resigned as the head of the Office of Violence Prevention.
  • In August 2025, Adam Procell was hired as the new violence prevention czar.

The players

Cavalier Johnson

The mayor of Milwaukee who nominated Karin Tyler to lead the Department of Community Wellness and Safety.

Karin Tyler

A longtime city employee who was nominated by Mayor Johnson to lead the newly formed Department of Community Wellness and Safety after serving as the interim head following the resignation of the previous czar.

Adam Procell

The previous violence prevention czar who resigned after just five months on the job due to a previously unknown provision in the Wisconsin Constitution that barred him from leading a city department due to a past criminal conviction.

Evan Goyke

The Milwaukee City Attorney who concluded that Procell was ineligible to lead a city department because of his past conviction.

Ashanti Hamilton

The former head of the Office of Violence Prevention who resigned in January 2025.

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What they’re saying

“For the better part of a decade, Karin Tyler has worked with the city's violence prevention activities. She has skillfully managed many initiatives and issues during her time there, and she earned the respect of her colleagues.”

— Cavalier Johnson, Mayor (urbanmilwaukee.com)

What’s next

The Common Council will need to approve Tyler's nomination to lead the Department of Community Wellness and Safety. A town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19 where the public will have an opportunity to hear from Tyler.

The takeaway

Tyler's appointment comes at a critical time for Milwaukee's violence prevention efforts, as the city looks to address ongoing public safety concerns through programs and partnerships led by the newly formed Department of Community Wellness and Safety.