Milwaukee Looks At How To Protect More Than 1,400 City Employees

Milwaukee officials are considering ways to better protect city employees who work in the field. But, allowing the workers to carry weapons doesn’t seem to be an option.

The city of Milwaukee is reviewing safety procedures for about 1,400 non-police or fire department employees who regularly work on streets, at homes or in businesses.

The review follows the fatal shooting last month of a building inspector, Greg “Ziggy” Zyszkiewicz, during an apparent carjacking.

City decals for employees’ private vehicles, and more city logos on clothing are being considered.

But Milwaukee Health Commissioner Bevan Baker frowns on nurses or other employees carrying weapons, including guns.

“I don’t want our employees to have to have open carry. I don’t want our nurses to have to use pepper spray, because I would hate for it to be used against them, ” Baker said Thursday at a Common Council committee hearing.

Milwaukee Alderman Robert Donovan claims some city employees already carry weapons when in the field, which would violate policy.

Meanwhile, the city of Milwaukee may study whether to equip employees with so-called “panic buttons” in case, they’re threatened while doing field work.

A city committee has endorsed the study. Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski said the panic button would have a GPS tracking device.

“So, if the city employee felt like they were in a position of danger or they felt threatened in any way, they would just press the button and we would immediately know where they are, and we could get help to them, as soon as possible, ” Zielinski said.

Zielinski added the city could later decide whether the panic button message would go straight to the Milwaukee Police Department or to the employee’s agency. The potential study still needs full Common Council approval.