Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn addresses a joint roll call between MPD and UWM police officers on E. Newberry Blvd. Credit: Gary Porter

SHARE

By of the

Prompted by what some east side residents call increasingly bad student conduct, Milwaukee police on Saturday vowed a crackdown against drunken misbehavior near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Chief Edward Flynn announced the effort with a roll call in the street - a symbolic effort he has used to unveil police efforts. This one was on E. Newberry Blvd. and N. Cramer St., where residents have said the loud parties and drunken shenanigans have hit an intolerable level.

Steve Weinstein, who works in the health care industry, said he came home early from work Friday because he was wiped out after getting so little sleep the night before, thanks to a rowdy student party.

"I have lived here for 27 years and this is the worst I have seen it," he said.

Flynn said the neighborhood is afflicted by "adult-looking individuals who have no common sense." The goal is to protect the area from drunken students and protect the students from becoming crime victims, he said.

"It's a challenge because everybody you can put in this circumstance are sure they are smarter than you and have very important parents," Flynn said. "We are going to educate them in the ways of citizenship."

Charles Martin, 19, who lives in the area and attends the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, said Flynn was insulting.

"We are wise fools with no common sense? It is a bit extreme," Martin said. "I wonder how many crimes are being committed while (officers) have been standing out here."

Ald. Nik Kovac said he was glad that UWM police will be part of the effort but said the university needs to do more.

Capt. Steve Basting, commander of the city's District 1, said the efforts would start with education and warnings and graduate to arrests.

"We are here to give these neighborhoods back to the people who live here," he said.