Alderman Tony Zielinski, Alderman Russel W. Stamper, II, and Alderman Bob Donovan are launching a new innovative public safety initiative. It’s called Community Oriented Policing House, or COP House. The initiative was first brought to Alderman Zielinski by Mike Crivello, the President of the Milwaukee Police Association as a way to address crime in desperate neighborhoods.

COP House will reduce crime incidences and police call volumes by taking a vacant city-owned home and renovating it with the help of community partners. Police officers would then move into the home and use it as a base to police the neighborhood, build relationships with residents, and identifying criminal activity while addressing socio-economic issues by connecting residents with area agencies for help.

The program goes beyond policing; the COP House will also be equipped with computers and staffed with educational partners who will offer a safe and accessible location for tutoring and educational advancement.

Alderman Zielinski says, “This is a multi-step approach to addressing the crime and poverty issues in our neighborhoods. Showing up to a crime scene is reactive; this initiate is pro-active and gives our residents a chance to advance their education.”

Mr. Crivello of the Milwaukee Police Association says he likes the program because it bolsters trust between the public and Milwaukee’s Police Department, “We need a new strategy for policing our neighborhoods. Our officers would be a part of the neighborhood instead of only showing up once there is a problem. This program allows Milwaukee officers to build a relationship of trust with the community through regular communication.”

Alderman Stamper and Alderman Donovan are offering their full support for the initiative which is in its exploratory phase.

Alderman Stamper says, “The City of Racine rolled out a community policing program and has already shown great success with it. It’s a tried and true program, and it’s an ideal initiative for the City of Milwaukee.”

The model for the COP House has reduced crime by up to 70 percent in some areas that are using the program. The criteria for the location of the COP House are crime, calls for service, and nuisance calls.

Alderman Donovan says the initiative is a no brainer, “We’ve been waiting for the mayor to deliver a public safety plan. It was supposed to be unveiled last year and we’re still waiting. The good citizens of Milwaukee have been waiting long enough; it’s time to take matters into our own hands.”

Alderman is available for interviews today to discuss his new initiative with the media. He is available at 414-405-1483.