Guest Message

DA’s new policy aimed at preventing child deaths

At a recent community meeting, Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm announced a new policy aimed at investigating child deaths and making our community a safer place for our kids.

According to Chisholm, the DA’s office, on its own initiative, will begin assigning an investigator whenever a child dies under suspicious circumstances. In the past, investigations often waited for a determination by an outside party that a death was suspicious. Such a determination could take weeks or months. Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Dr. Christopher Happy is currently developing protocol, including training programs, for this initiative.

Kudos to the DA and the Medical Examiner for just doing what needs to be done to keep children safe. No fanfare, no press conference, no foot dragging. Our community will be a safer place for our children if more agencies and individuals follow the example of the DA’s office and take leadership and ownership of this very important issue.

Amanda Burrows