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List of chiefs of the Milwaukee Police Department

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The Milwaukee Police Department headquarters as viewed from a nearby park
The Milwaukee Police Department headquarters in 2012

The chief of the Milwaukee Police Department is the executive responsible for the Milwaukee Police Department. The position was established in 1855 by mayor James B. Cross to replace the position of city sheriff. He appointed William Beck, a former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, as the first chief, a position he held until his resignation in 1861; he later served two more non-consecutive terms. The mayor directly appointed the position, which caused the position to have a spoils system.[1][2] The Fire and Police Commission was founded in 1885 with the sole authority to select and remove chiefs, replacing the previous system. In 1888, the commission fired Florian J. Ries, who had been appointed by Mayor Emil Wallber, and selected John T. Janssen, who served as chief until his resignation in 1921.[3]

The department's first Hispanic chief was Phillip Arreola, who became chief in 1989 – following Arreola, Arthur L. Jones became the first African American chief and Nannette Hegerty became the first female chief in 1996 and 2003, respectively.[4] The current chief is Jeffrey B. Norman, who entered office in December 2020.[a][5]

Chiefs[edit]

Black and white oval image of John T. Janssen in police uniform with tassels on the left side, grabbing onto his belt with his right hand.
John T. Janssen (pictured in 1912) was chief from 1888 to 1921 and the first chief appointed by the Fire and Police Commission.
Chiefs of the Milwaukee Police Department
Name Tenure start Tenure end Notes Refs.
William Beck 1855 October 1861 [2]
Walter Sheldon Johnson October 1861 April 1862 Also spelt "Johnston" [6]
Herman L. Page 1862 1863 [6]
William Beck 1863 1878 [2]
Daniel Kennedy 1878 1880 [7]
William Beck 1880 1882 [2]
Robert Wason Jr. 1882 1884 Also spelt "Wasson" [8]
Lemuel Ellsworth 1884 1885 [3][8]
Florian J. Ries 1885 1888 Fired by the Police and Fire Commission [3][9]
John T. Janssen 1888 1921 First chief appointed by the Police and Fire Commission [3][10]
Jacob G. Laubenheimer Jr. 1921 1936 [11]
Joseph T. Kluchesky 1936 1945 [4][12]
John W. Polcyn 1945 1957 [13]
Howard O. Johnson 1957 1964 [14]
Harold A. Breier 1964 1984 [15]
Robert J. Ziarnik 1984 November 1989 [4]
Philip Arreola November 1989 November 15, 1996 First Hispanic chief [4]
Arthur L. Jones November 15, 1996 November 18, 2003 First African American chief [4][16]
Nannette Hegerty November 18, 2003 November 15, 2007 First female chief [4][17][18]
Edward A. Flynn November 15, 2007 February 16, 2018 [19]
Alfonso Morales February 2018 August 6, 2020 Acting until 2020; fired [20][21]
Jeffrey B. Norman December 2020 Incumbent Acting until November 15, 2021 [5]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Norman was acting chief until November 15, 2021

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 9.
  2. ^ a b c d Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 14.
  3. ^ a b c d Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 10.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 12.
  5. ^ a b Hughes 2021.
  6. ^ a b Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 15.
  7. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 16.
  8. ^ a b Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 20.
  9. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 21.
  10. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 22.
  11. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 46.
  12. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 11.
  13. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 80.
  14. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 95.
  15. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 109.
  16. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 121.
  17. ^ Wellauer-Lenius 2008, p. 125.
  18. ^ Diedrich & Borowski 2007.
  19. ^ Luthern 2018.
  20. ^ Luthern 2019.
  21. ^ Barton & Luthern 2020.

Works cited[edit]

  • Barton, Gina; Luthern, Ashley (August 6, 2020). "Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales demoted to captain; Fire and Police Commission says he 'failed' city". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (published January 4, 2022). Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  • Diedrich, John; Borowski, Greg (January 6, 2007). "Hegerty to retire". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  • Hughes, Elliot (November 15, 2021). "Norman takes the oath as Milwaukee's 22nd police chief: 'I am without a doubt ready'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  • Luthern, Ashley (January 9, 2018). "Who will be named acting chief of the Milwaukee Police Department? A look at likely candidates". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  • Luthern, Ashley (December 13, 2019). "'No rush for us to hand out a four-year term': When will Milwaukee know if the police chief is getting another term?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (published January 5, 2022). Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  • Wellauer-Lenius, Maralyn (February 2008). Milwaukee Police Department. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738551722.
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