Alderman Donovan calling for external audit of MPD's violent crime stats

By Matt Montgomery

CREATED Jun. 22, 2012

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  • Alderman Bob Donovan. | Photo: TODAY'S TMJ4 HD

MILWAUKEE- Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan is again calling for an outside audit into Milwaukee Police Department's crime stats.

"I do feel it's important that we allow a third party to conduct an extensive audit," said Ald. Donovan to Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Wisconsin's Afternoon News.  "I just think for credibility purposes, certainly the department, the chief, the mayor have a vested interest in insuring that these numbers are accurate."

The Milwaukee Common Council's Public Safety Committee voted to delay a final vote on a proposal that would have directed the city comptroller's office to conduct an outside review of the stats.

Donovan's comments come after Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said that crime is dropping despite a Journal Sentinel investigation finding numerous coding errors. 

"Had it not been the Journal (Sentinel) bringing this out, I don't believe we would be discussing these issues," said Donovan.  "They're important issues but they have been kept under wraps."

MPD's internal audit found that 5,300 violent crime stats were misclassified over the past six years.