Menomonee Falls police report shows staffing shortfalls and drop in major crimes in second quarter

Chief Waters, chief of the Menomonee Falls Police Department, told the Village Board that the department is operating below its authorized sworn strength and continues active recruitment while reporting a notable decline in major crimes in the second quarter.

The report matters because staffing levels and training timelines affect patrol coverage, response capacity at community events and the department’s ability to sustain directed patrols in village parks.

Chief Waters said the department is authorized for 65 sworn officers and, “We have 61 currently assigned” as of the end of the second quarter. He later described the department as having 60 assigned “as of today,” reflecting personnel changes since the quarter closed. Civilian staffing was listed as 13.5 authorized and 12.5 assigned; the department said it is actively recruiting a data analyst.

Waters described current vacancies and leaves: one sergeant vacancy, four officer vacancies, and three members on military leave. He said 53 of the 65 authorized sworn officers are fully trained and operational and therefore count toward deployable staffing. The department expects three new hires to enter the WCTC law enforcement academy this month; Waters said they will graduate in December, enter field training in spring 2026 and be counted as fully trained by about late April 2026.

Waters outlined training, equipment and fleet changes. The department acquired three Ford police interceptors and a Chevy Tahoe for traffic enforcement and upgraded conducted-energy devices from the X26 model to the Taser 10, which he said required several hours of training. He said officers attended a range of training this quarter, including crash reconstruction, roadside impaired-driving training, crisis intervention (provided in Waukesha County by NAMI), cyber investigations and frontline leadership for new supervisors.

Calls for service and enforcement activity rose modestly. Waters said assignments were up 7 percent for the quarter and year-to-date assignments were up about 6 percent (roughly 900 additional calls year to date). He attributed part of the increase to more self-initiated enforcement, including traffic stops, and to greater call volume on streets experiencing traffic bypasses.

Crime statistics in the briefing showed a decline in several categories. Waters said Group A offenses fell 47 percent in the second quarter year‑over‑year (from 239 to 126 in the quarter cited). He highlighted specific drops: thefts fell 64 percent and assaults fell 65 percent in the second quarter compared with the same period last year. Year to date, Waters reported a 14 percent decline in Group A offenses (410 to 354 year to date).

Traffic crashes increased numerically in the second quarter: property‑damage crashes rose from 115 to 133, personal‑injury crashes from 29 to 37, and fatalities from 0 to 1 in the quarter. Waters listed the top contributing factors to crashes as failure to yield, following too closely, loss of vehicle control and inattentive driving and identified several recurring locations for crashes and directed patrols, including Falls Parkway and Pilgrim, Appleton Avenue at Pilgrim, and Pilgrim at Good Hope.

The department reported nine pursuits in the quarter; Waters said six were terminated by officers after a risk analysis and one ended with arrest at the scene. The department also reported Flock automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) activity: two arrests related to ALPR hits, recovery of four stolen vehicles or plates and identification of drivers in cases initially reported as hit‑and‑runs.

K‑9 deployments numbered 21 in the quarter for vehicle and building searches and evidence searches; the department conducted two public demonstrations. Community policing and outreach items included DARE instruction, bicycle rodeos, a Coffee with a Cop event and support for special events such as Falls Memorial Fest and the Memorial Day Parade. Waters reminded the board of two upcoming community events: the John Taylor memorial on Aug. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at John Taylor Park and National Night Out at Village Park beginning at 6 p.m. on the same evening.

Waters said the department is exploring AI‑assisted transcription for reports using body‑worn camera video and is consulting with the district attorney’s office and other agencies to verify accuracy before rollout. He also said the department is hiring a data analyst to support evidence‑based policing and is in early planning stages for departmental remodeling and a public training center.

Members of the board asked clarifying questions during the briefing about shift assignments for new officers, reasons for resignations, comparisons with peer agencies and park patrols. Waters said that during a new officer’s 18‑month probationary period the department generally assigns them to day or early shifts to provide more backup and training opportunities and that lateral hires do not retain prior rank but receive lateral‑hire pay and benefits.

The briefing concluded with board affirmation and no formal action required; Waters said recruitment and training remain department priorities.