The Milwaukee Police Department — which says it has “no opinion” on the effectiveness of 414LIFE — says its own crime-reduction methods deserve some credit. And data suggest they're right: Homicides through September have dropped over the past two years, from 92 in 2017, to 81 in 2018, to 70 this year.

Some north Milwaukee residents, however, said they don't believe enough is being done.

“It’s scary. I have to call my kids every second to make sure they’re on the bus,” Tiffany Allen said on Monday from behind her screen door. She lives in the Garden Homes, and has seen multiple police chases speed past her home. “My parents never worried about me being shot at the bus stop or going to the corner store.”

“I wish that someone could save this community,” she said.

Jerome King was walking down his block picking up trash. He’s lived in the area since 1985, and has heard of 414LIFE. But he also said that any program can only do so much.

“It’s this new generation,” King said. “If everybody were to take charge of their young people at home, we could steer this generation right.”