Two Milwaukee police officers were ambushed and shot Thursday night, sparking renewed focus on the city’s worsening crime crisis. The brazen attack left one officer in critical condition and marked yet another escalation in violence against law enforcement in Democrat-led cities.
The ambush occurred around 9:20 p.m. in an alley near the 2200 block of N. 24th Place. Officers responded to a report of a subject with a weapon, updated en route to a shots-fired call. As they approached, the suspect opened fire without warning. Both officers were hit and unable to return fire.
The officer in critical condition is a 32-year-old man with over six years of service. The second officer, 29, also with six years on the force, remains in stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner blamed gun access but admitted, “I could put an officer on every single corner, that will not eliminate the amount of guns in the hands of people that shouldn’t have them.”
The Milwaukee Police Association called the incident a breaking point. “Violence in our city is out of control,” it said. “Our officers need more leadership from the city to bring an end to this violence.”
Milwaukee has seen a surge in violent crime in recent years, even as local officials push progressive reforms. In just seven years, five officers have died in the line of duty, and dozens more have been shot or targeted.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the suspect—still at large—is known to police. “No person in law enforcement should ever, ever be fired upon,” he said.
