Contact: Jeff Fleming, 414-286-8580

For release: Friday, February 28, 2025

Statement from Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on

His Support for a Statewide Police Officer Recruitment Incentive

“Today I formally endorsed an addition to the City of Milwaukee’s Wisconsin legislative requests which calls for a statewide incentive to attract new police officer recruits.

My city, like many municipalities, faces a situation in which fewer people are applying to become Milwaukee Police officers. It is a challenge seen across Wisconsin and around the country. This year, Milwaukee budgeted to hire and train three recruit classes with 65 positions each.  We are not receiving sufficient numbers of applicants to meet that goal.

Florida has seen success with a recruitment incentive of $5-thoudand that has drawn thousands of officers to police departments in that state. I am hopeful we can replicate that success here.

Crime is down in Milwaukee with our framework of both accountability and prevention, Milwaukee is reducing the number of serious crimes and reducing the number of victims. Our officers do a good job, and I want to support that work.  I’ve been clear since I was elected, I want to add to the numbers of Milwaukee police officers.

I am hopeful the state will join our recruiting work so that our crime reduction efforts are kept on track.”