



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- After a Milwaukee man was gunned down on the city's south side Sunday evening, March 10th, a Milwaukee alderman says it is time to hire hundreds more officers to police the city.



Police say a 49-year-old Milwaukee man was arguing with the mother of his children near 5th and Maple Sunday evening. Authorities say the woman called a 39-year-old man -- asking him to come over.



When he did, police say the acquaintance was shot to death by the man with whom the woman was arguing.



The suspect was later arrested about seven blocks away, after crashing his car.



Now, Alderman Bob Donovan says this shooting is another reminder of why Milwaukee needs to expand its police force.



"First and foremost, the number one priority is public safety. All the money that we put into trying to attract businesses here, you might as well pour down the drain unless we first stabilize and make safer our neighborhoods and there are no shortcuts to getting that done," Alderman Donovan said.



Alderman Donovan is calling for the city to hire 300-400 new police officers. With the starting salary of $42,500, such growth would add between $12 million and $17 million to the payroll.



"First and foremost, let me say this - where there's a will there's a way. It's critical the mayor be convinced this is what needs to be done," Alderman Donovan said.



The Mayor's Office said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was tied up in meetings and unable to immediately respond to Alderman Donovan's statement.