MILWAUKEE - In Friday's debate with Mary Burke, Scott Walker tried to defend his gubernatorial record on public safety. What are the facts?

THE FACTS ON SCOTT WALKER’S RECORD ON CRIME:

● According to the FBI, out of 10 Midwestern states, Wisconsin had the second largest increase in violent crime between 2010 and 2012. [1]

● Walker’s first budget  asked all state agencies to cut 10% from their budgets plus gave orders to find an additional $174.3 million to shed. [2]

● That meant the Department of Justice cutting sexual assault victims grants by 42.5%, grants that would likely still be cut today if Walker didn’t have to face real public scrutiny to reinstate them for victims in our state. [3]

● Later that year, two days before Christmas, Walker announced $2.46 million in brand new cuts. The Department of Justice cut $1.36 million from their program of criminal history searches and fingerprint identification services. In addition, the Department of Corrections slashed $3.8 million in operations cuts, $3.9 million in juvenile justice programs, and $846,400 in sex offender management. [4]

● Last year, Wisconsin Republicans—led by Governor Walker—cut more than $445,000 from Milwaukee’s public safety budget. [5]

● Walker’s budget cut went against the advice of the Milwaukee Police the program. In an election year move, Walker took credit for partially restoring funding, after cutting the program by nearly $450,000.

RESPONSE FROM DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN CHAIR MIKE TATE:

“Wisconsin is not a safer place with Scott Walker as governor. Walker’s cuts to crucial public safety programs only make our state a place where public safety officials find it increasingly harder to do their jobs. Walker’s record is one of drastic cuts and inattention to areas like Milwaukee which need as much help from the state as possible in order to keep their streets safe.”

BACKGROUND:

[1] “As total law enforcement spending in Wisconsin decreased, along with the number of officers serving our communities, violent crime in Wisconsin increased at a far greater rate than it did on the national level and more than every other state in the Midwest but one.” (Wisconsin must make public safety a higher priority, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/14/14)

[2] (“Wisconsin plans to reduce sex assault victim grants”, Appleton Post Crescent, 12/4/11)

[3]  (“Wisconsin plans to reduce sex assault victim grants”, Appleton Post Crescent, 12/4/11)

[4] (“State releases details of budget cuts; UW System to take biggest hit”, Wisconsin State Journal, 12/24/11)

[5] The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee rejected an attempt to restore $445,400 from a community policing grant for the Police Department's ShotSpotter program. Walker had not included the money in his budget. (“Barrett says state budget cuts do more harm than good, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,  6/22/13)