Milwaukee Police Report Increase in Infant Homicide

Abuse at the hands of caregivers takes a toll

The year 2008 has so far been a tragic one for our children.

• More children under the age of 3 have died at the hands of another than in any year in the last 10 years. 
• So far this year, seven children have died as the result of neglect or abuse – six of those were charged as homicides. One is considered a neglect causing death.
• Three of those seven deaths were due to Abusive Blunt Force Head Trauma (formerly known as Shaken Baby)

To bring awareness to this sad trend, the Milwaukee Police Department has partnered with Clear Channel Radio to begin broadcasting a 60-second public service announcement recorded by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn. The PSAs will begin running today and will air indefinitely on all Clear Channel radio stations. Copies of the spot were distributed to all local media outlets for their use, as well.

“Children in our community are paying a terrible price for the abusive behaviors of those who are supposed to protect them,” said Chief Flynn. “We all have a role to play as role models and we must act like a child’s life depends on us. Because it does.”

The issue has taken on international significance. The World Health Organization acknowledged child abuse as a global tragedy in the United Nations Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children in 2006. The WHO recommended an integrated strategy to respond to this violence, but most important, called for a strategy to prevent child abuse.

The Milwaukee Police Department is taking the first step toward prevention by creating awareness of the issue of child abuse in Milwaukee and by encouraging anyone with knowledge that this crime is taking place not to stand idly by.