Operation Impact to be Bigger, Bolder in Year Two

Building off momentum and successes achieved in its inaugural run in 2008, Operation Impact will be better and looking to expand this year, according to its founder, Alderman Donovan.

Joined by Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Jeff Altenburg and others during a launch news conference in the gym at Christ St. Peter Lutheran School, 2229 W. Greenfield Ave., Alderman Donovan said the 2009 version of Operation Impact will be bigger, better and will make an even bigger impact. “We’ll be turning up the heat on the bad guys even more, and that means we’re hopeful that things will be fairly quiet this summer,” he said.

The Operation Impact target area is bounded by W. Pierce St. on the north, W. Lincoln Ave. on the south, S. 16th Street/S. Cesar Chavez Dr. on the east and S. 38th St. on the west – an area located entirely within the 6th Police District.

Amazingly, 36 block watch groups have been formed in the target area since the program started in June 2008, he said. “People saw that it (adding additional beat patrols) was working and that the bad guys were put on ice. People will get involved if they think it will make a difference,” he said.

The success has also led to financial support, the alderman said. “Donations poured in and we surpassed our fundraising goal of $176,000 as people decided they wanted to be a part of a new and innovative crime fighting program – and because they liked having safer and more peaceful neighborhoods,” the alderman said.

This year’s Operation Impact fundraising goal is $250,000, and if a recent neighborhood fundraising event is any barometer, that goal is within reach, Alderman Donovan said. “That smaller event brought in $6,800 and it was just regular folks giving $20 donations – lots of $20 donations,” he said.

Foundations, corporations and small business owners have also been very supportive, providing generous and steady funding support for Operation Impact, according to Alderman Donovan.

Expanding Operation Impact east of S. 16th St. and west into the Jackson Park neighborhood is something Alderman Donovan is looking to in 2009. “The basic recipe and approach is there and is proven to be successful, and I strongly believe it will work in those new areas as well,” he said.

Operation Impact has so far focused heavily on nuts and bolts “broken windows” law enforcement, with officers enforcing all laws and city ordinances, from littering, loud music and traffic violations to prostitution, theft and robbery. The effort was funded primarily with private donations from local businesses and corporations, and in June 2008 the Common Council formally began accepting private donations for police overtime costs that allowed Operation Impact beat patrol officers to scour the targeted area the entire summer of 2008.

Dozens of community agencies and programs have contributed personnel, volunteers and/or resources to Operation Impact, including UMOS, Southside Organizing Committee, Operation Payback, Community Partners, Weed and Seed, Journey House, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, Weekend Warriors, Milwaukee Christian Center and many others.

Operation Payback

In April outside the Milwaukee Christian Center, 2137 W. Greenfield Ave., House of Correction inmates participated in the Community Justice Resource Center’s (CJRC) Community Service program. They cleaned streets and alleys (and removed graffiti) in the Operation Impact area – Pierce St. to the north, Lincoln Ave. to the south, S. 16th St to the east and S. 38th St. to the west.

“These individuals will be giving back to the community, and law-abiding citizens expect nothing less,” Alderman Donovan said. “And with the snow now melted away, they’ll be filling quite a few bags with litter and debris that is now all too evident.”

The alderman is working with Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke to explore the possibility of expanding the program further during the summer of 2009 – possibly east of S. 16th St. and west of S. 38th St. into the Jackson Park neighborhood.