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Flynn's plan not to get shot stirs controversy

Chief Flynn makes no apology over plan
Posted at 5:02 PM, Jun 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-06 23:27:35-04

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn made no apologies, even after he gets a scolding from both city leaders and the police union about his controversial four-point plan.

Last month, the Chief outlined four ways not to get shot in Milwaukee, during a kickoff breakfast for Mayor Tom Barrett.

Alderwoman Milele Coggs says, "we have to be more mindful about the message that we are trying to send and those that are listening to us and the impact it has on them as well."

Here are the chief's rules.

1. Don't belong to a gang
2. Don't be a drug dealer
3. Don't carry an illegal gun 
4. Assure you know the other persons arrest record. 
 
But he didn't exactly phrase number four that way. Instead, he said, "If you are in an argument with a stranger, ask them how often they've been arrested. If they've been arrested more often than you've been arrested, concede the point," he said.
 
Some officials and residents didn't see humor in such a serious topic.

The chief made the comments days after 9 year old Za'layia Jenkins was shot on the city's north side.

The little girl was watching  TV inside her home as a shootout raged outside.

Flynn says today, "Yes, I got scolded. I probably should have been more sensitive to that. I didn't apologize because my motives weren't impure."

The chief was suppose to talk about trying to stop gun violence at the meeting.

Instead he took his pounding and put the conversation on hold.

"I've used this as a communication device many times and I never got a complaint. I got a complaint, so I won't use it anymore," he says.