Report It, Record It
Click here for a PDF version of the Report It, Report It Flyer.
Report It, Record It: 935-7211
As residents of Milwaukee’s East Side, we have a strong desire to live in harmony with all of our neighbors. We have the right to enjoy a fine quality of life, free from nuisances and disturbances. The City of Milwaukee Code of Ordinances, Chapter 80-63, prohibits excessive noise, or that which is disturbing at 50 feet outside the property line. Murray Hill Neighborhood Association (MHNA) has an excellent working relationship with the 1st District of the Milwaukee Police Department and has collaboratively developed a program to enhance police response and outcomes on Milwaukee’s East Side. This program is called Report It, Record It.
WHO: All East Side Residents
WHAT: Report It, Record It
WHEN: Any time, day or night, that you are disturbed by excessive noise, trespassing, property violations or any other objectionable behavior
WHERE: Anywhere on the East Side
WHY: (1) Because we all have the right to the quiet enjoyment of our homes. (2) To create a record of disturbances that occur in our neighborhoods. This is a crucial step in documenting the reality of the late-night environment in our neighborhoods. (3) Your Report It, Record It call triggers communication between the MPD, the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS), UWM and back to MHNA. These agencies are cooperating to tackle neighborhood problems. For example, noise complaints result in landlord warnings, possible fines and evictions by DNS, and in tracking by UWM. MHNA receives police service call data from District 1 on a monthly basis and records it on our website (http://www.murrayhillna.org/index.php/quality-of-life/nuisance-noise-data) to monitor progress made.
HOW:
Report It: Call the Milwaukee Police Department 1st District Shift Commander at 935-7211. Inform him or her that you are calling in a “Report It, Record It” complaint and provide as much information as possible on the location and identification of the offenders (number of people, license plates if applicable, etc.). If you are willing, inform the shift commander that you would like a citation issued and you would be willing to testify as a witness if necessary. In an emergency, never hesitate to call 911.
Record It: Take detailed notes about the situation (date, time, addresses, etc.). Your notes may be needed in the event that you are asked to testify in court. They also create a record that could provide valuable information for the City and MPD to support an eviction action.
Please remember that this program is new. MHNA continues to work with District 1 to streamline and improve this system and your feedback is encouraged. If you have questions, comments or concerns about how your call to Report It, Record It was handled, please notify Steve Klebar (MHNA president) at 964-2492 or email issues@murrayhillna.org.
Report It, Record It – Frequently Asked Questions
(1) Q. I have been awoken by a loud group of people walking by – what good will it do to call the police if the people will be gone by the time the police arrive?
A. It is important for you to call as it provides valuable data to the police and helps them determine where to station squads. The shift commander knows the locations of all 1st District squads at all times and can determine how quickly someone can respond.
(2) Q. Aren’t noise complaints a low priority for the police? Why bother calling?
A. In the past, residents were instructed to call the centralized MPD non-emergency line. This often resulted in calls getting “lost in the system” and callers getting frustrated. Report It, Record It is different. 935-7211 is a direct connection to the District 1 shift commander who can let callers know when a squad can get to an incident. MHNA representatives have met repeatedly with police to explain our concerns and District 1 is taking note.
(3) Q. Can I call in a complaint anonymously?
A. Yes, this can be done – just let the shift commander know that you wish to remain anonymous. However, your call will make a bigger impact if you ask that a citation be issued and state that you are willing to testify if necessary. (See next question.)
(4) Q. Will I have to go to court if a citation is issued as a result of a call I make?
A. It is possible, but unlikely. In the majority of cases, the citation will be paid and will not advance to court. If it does advance to court, the police officer will typically testify if the offending behavior was still taking place at the time the squad arrived at the scene. It is only in the case that a citation gets challenged in court and the citation was issued based only on your testimony that you would be invited to testify in court.
(5) Q. What was the outcome of a call I made?
A. Contact Gregg Duran, the District 1 Community Liaison Officer to inquire about the outcome of a particular call (935-7729, gduran@milwaukee.gov). All call data is also compiled and posted on MHNA’s webpage at: http://www.murrayhillna.org/index.php/quality-of-life/nuisance-noise-data. You can click on the links each month to get to a map with the individual call data.
(6) Q. Is Report It, Record It really making a difference?
A. We are encouraged with the results so far. District 1 is taking this issue seriously. Collaboration between MPD and DNS has already resulted in several evictions of problem tenants. We are still working on the best way to analyze the service call data, but anecdotal reports indicate that District 1 officers are taking the issue seriously, targeting “party” houses, and beginning to make the impression that nuisance behaviors will not be tolerated.
(7) Q. What can I do about problem properties in my neighborhood such as trash, over-parking, occupancy issues, and properties in disrepair?
A. Call the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services at 286-2268 and select Option #2; or file a complaint online (www.city.milwaukee.gov; choose “Request Services Online”).