Eric Hovde vs. Milwaukee Mayor Johnson: A Conflict of Views on Public Safety and Policing in the Battle for Law Enforcement Funds

Eric Hovde Attacks Milwaukee’s Law Enforcement Budget: Republican Senate Candidate Demands Greater Funding for Large Cities and Attacks “Defund the Police” Movement

Milwaukee Mayor’s Justification for Police Funding Is Disputed: Allegations of a Raise in Budget Conflict with a Drop in Sworn Officers and Unrecognized Budget Cuts

In an interview featured on the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show podcast, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Eric Hovde, cited discussions with Milwaukee voters and criticized big cities, including Milwaukee, for what he considered to be insufficient spending on law enforcement. Hovde called the “defund the police” movement the “dumbest idea of the last 100 years.” A proposed rise in police funding from $280 million in 2022 to over $300 million in 2024 was one of the examples Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson used to refute claims of defunding. But Johnson’s claim was questioned because of the decline in sworn police officers in the last few years, even with more cash, and because the department’s overall budget cuts were not acknowledged.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson defended himself against accusations of defunding law enforcement
(PHOTO: PBS Wisconsin)

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The defense of the mayor of Milwaukee raises concerns about resource allocation in the face of changing community needs

As stated in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Johnson defended himself against accusations of defunding law enforcement by arguing that no funds have been taken out of the agency and transferred to non-policing public safety initiatives. Although the Milwaukee Police Department has received more funds, there are still issues with the number of sworn officers being reduced and how best to allocate resources in light of changing community demands. The $1.92 billion City of Milwaukee budget for 2024 makes the debate over funding for law enforcement relevant to larger conversations about public safety, community investment, and striking a balance between social services and policing in urban governance.

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