A JOB BIGGER THAN POLICE

The numbers show police seized scores of guns and dozens of pounds of
cocaine and jailed thousands of suspected wrongdoers over the summer,
Milwaukee Police Chief Nannette Hegerty noted this week. Yet assaults
and robberies have surged.

"I think we have a societal crisis," Hegerty concluded. Think? We most
certainly have a societal crisis, and a long-simmering one. The fuel
comes from many sources, but the latest was the collapse of the
economic floor under Milwaukee's inner city during the 1980s, due to
the downturn in manufacturing. That section of town is still reeling
from the catastrophe.

The chief also said: "This is a problem bigger than law enforcement."
Indeed, societal problems cry out for societal solutions. Yes, the
Police Department plays a crucial role. But others must pitch in, too.

As it happened, two heinous crimes punctuated the crisis this week. A
22-year-old man, Brandon Sprewer, was shot at a bus stop on the
northwest side in a robbery. And an 11-year-old girl was allegedly
gang raped on the north side. The depravity of that crime was unusual
- - a 40-year-old relative was among the 19 suspected culprits. A recent
United Way of Greater Milwaukee report notes that a substantial
portion of teen moms are victims of sexual assault, often by adult
males.

In considering the scope of the solutions, the Fire Department may be
illustrative. It puts out fires and, ordinarily, is not held
responsible for their outbreak. Still, the department has a role to
play in prevention. It can encourage the use of smoke alarms, for
instance. It can lobby to require fire-resistant materials in consumer
products.

But prevention requires more: City officials can insist on sprinklers
in new construction. Neighborhood groups can stay on the alert for
fire traps. Teachers can warn children against playing with matches.
Public policies to encourage higher incomes can help because there is
a greater risk of fires among the poor. The insurance industry can
pitch in. And residents themselves have a role to play, by practicing
fire safety.

In like manner, the Police Department primarily responds to crime
after the fact. It has a role to play in prevention, but it needs
help. More jobs in the inner city would be the No. 1 cure - a task
beyond the reach of the police. After-school programs curb teen crime
- - a reason to contribute to such programs, via the United Way, for
instance. And yes, crime is an individual responsibility. Parents must
raise children right and true.

Hegerty is not off the hook. But stemming the hopelessness fueling
this crisis is a job bigger than the police.