Getting Tough at Mayfair

At a news conference today, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa district attorneys are going to say that they're mad as hell and they're not going to take this anymore.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and Wauwatosa officials will announce a new get-tough prosecution policy today for dealing with disruptions and criminal conduct at Mayfair Mall.

Chisholm, along with Wauwatosa Mayor Theresa Estness, Police Chief Barry Weber and mall representatives, will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. at the Safety Building in downtown Milwaukee to outline the new strategies they have developed for dealing with disruptive behavior at the mall.

Instead of issuing municipal citations for disturbances at Mayfair, Assistant District Attorney Kent Lovern said Monday, officials will refer all mall-related cases to be evaluated for possible criminal prosecution.

Also, there will be more coordination between Milwaukee and Wauwatosa police and the district attorney's community prosecution unit.

The way I read this it says that Wauwatosa's leaders have admitted that they are in over their heads and they want Milwaukee to solve their problems.

Whatever.

I don't think the thugs causing all the trouble care about municipal citations versus possible criminal charges.

Is that really going to deter a thug?

I hope there will be other strategies announced at the news conference because if this is the best they're got, it's not enough.