Milwaukee Crime Down 8%, Leaders Focus on Summer Safety

Violent crime, carjackings, and non-fatal shootings see significant declines, but homicides remain a concern as the city prepares for warmer months.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:38pm

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Milwaukee is seeing an 8% overall drop in crime so far in 2026, with several major categories like robbery, carjackings, and non-fatal shootings seeing significant declines. However, homicides remain a struggle, and city leaders are shifting their focus to prevention and public safety strategies as they prepare for the summer months.

Why it matters

The reduction in crime is encouraging, but Milwaukee still faces challenges around deadly violence, particularly related to access to firearms and conflicts among people who know each other. As the city heads into the summer, when crime can spike, officials are emphasizing a collaborative approach involving law enforcement, community groups, and residents to maintain the downward trends.

The details

Overall crime in Milwaukee is down about 8% compared to the same time last year. Several major categories saw significant declines, including robbery (down 30%), carjackings (down 40%), non-fatal shootings (down 27%), and human trafficking (down 50%). Aggravated assaults and auto thefts also decreased. However, homicides remain a concern, with the city struggling to bring those numbers down despite the overall crime reduction.

  • In the closing out of 2025, Milwaukee saw a 22% reduction in violent crime, but was slightly above in homicides.
  • In the first quarter of 2026, Milwaukee is seeing an 8% overall drop in crime compared to the same period last year.

The players

Cavalier Johnson

The Mayor of Milwaukee.

Jeffery Norman

The Milwaukee Police Chief.

Denita Bell

The Milwaukee County Sheriff.

Karin Taylor

The Director of the Department of Community Wellness and Safety.

Kent Lovern

The Milwaukee County District Attorney.

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What they’re saying

“My ​view ​is ​pretty ​simple ​and ​that's ​that ​Milwaukee ​continues ​to ​be ​a ​safer ​city ​as ​violent ​crime ​and ​property ​crime ​continues ​to ​drop in ​the ​city.”

— Cavalier Johnson, Mayor

“Every ​number ​listing ​as ​data ​is ​an ​incident ​that ​our ​members ave ​responded ​to. Thank ​them ​when ​you ​see ​them. Their ​jobs ​are ​hard. The ​trial ​to ​bring ​justice ​for ​Officer ​Corder and Officer ​McCray, ​was ​recently ​concluded ​and ​it ​took ​its ​toll ​​on ​our ​department. ​I'm ​so ​grateful ​for ​all ​they ​do ​​to ​help ​keep ​this ​city ​safe.”

— Jeffery Norman, Police Chief

“So ​you ​may ​have ​taken ​a ​life, ​but ​you ​also ​kind ​of ​taken ​your ​own ​too, ​because ​at ​the ​end ​of ​the ​day, ​ ​you're ​eventually ​going ​to ​be ​caught. They're ​not ​going ​to ​give ​up. Law ​enforcement, ​prosecutors, ​they're ​not ​going ​to ​stop. ​They're ​going ​to ​come ​get ​you. ​So ​think ​about ​what ​it ​is ​that ​you're ​doing.”

— Cavalier Johnson, Mayor

“Firearm ​ownership ​has ​a ​huge ​responsibility. ​I ​say ​this ​and ​I ​say, ​as ​always, ​the ​young ​ones ​are ​not ​getting ​guns ​from ​the ​store. They're ​coming ​from ​vehicles, ​they're ​coming ​from ​unsecured ​items ​within ​your ​home. ​​Unacceptable.”

— Jeffery Norman, Police Chief

“Milwaukee ​County ​takes ​a ​tougher ​approach ​to ​prosecuting ​individuals ​who, ​particularly ​in ​their ​homes, ​leave ​their ​firearms ​out ​in ​the ​open ​for ​their ​young ​people ​in ​the ​household ​to ​obtain. And ​I ​can ​tell ​you ​that ​approach ​is ​not ​changing. ​That ​is ​exactly ​our ​approach ​because ​you ​combine ​the ​irresponsible ​safekeeping ​of ​firearms ​with ​injury ​to ​children.”

— Kent Lovern, District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.