City of Milwaukee Employees Carry Conceal Handguns On The Job, Alderman Bob Donovan Exposed

The City of Milwaukee has a Firearms and Dangerous Weapons prohibition policy for City employees and extended to contractors, but according to Alderman Donovan some City employees carry conceal handguns for their own safety on the job.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 6, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, during the Common Council Public Works Committee hearing relating to a press communication by multiple aldermen/woman concerning a photo of three White concrete trench sewer repairing workers from American Sewer Services, Inc. (ASS) openly carrying handguns and one brandishing or displaying his handgun revealed that the workers were actually bragging and fooling around about them carrying handguns in a predominantly African-American neighborhood. According to Ghassan Korban, the Commissioner of Public Works (PW), the photo was taken on November 30 by a truck driver (Brian Oliver working for Sonag ready mix) from a ready mix concrete vendor delivery service that supplies the concrete for ASS. Apparently, Korban stated during the hearing that the ASS employees carry weapons as a standard procedure and Dennis Biondich, the owner of ASS wasn't aware of the City of Milwaukee Firearms and Dangerous Weapons prohibition policy and that the City Attorney's Office didn't incorporate a copy of the policy with the City contract. ASS has 11 contract jobs in Aldermanic Districts 11 and 13 districts worth $1.4M, which the last two contracted jobs are almost completed. 

Most of the ASS employees have been laid-off for the season, the employee who had his gun drawn won't be expected to return for work (was fired) and the two other employees in the photo could return for work, but it is not for certain, according to Korban.

It seems, the City Attorney's Office failed to include the firearms prohibition in the contracts for City contractors and Kathryn Block, the Assistant City Attorney at the hearing says that the firearms prohibition for contractors was not clear and doesn't have any clause for "consequences in regards to contracts", if a violation occurs or in enforcing the policy by ending a contract. 

Korban testified that Biondich had notified him, that he send out a notice prohibiting all his ASS employees from carrying handguns at City of Milwaukee job sites. The Public Works Committee members told PW Commissioner Korban to send the photo and information gathered concerning the ASS workers with handguns to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office for review and to determine, if the ASS workers violated any law, Also, that Korban should request for the Milwaukee Police Department to investigate the incident and possible citations be issued.

Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan during the hearing exposed that some Milwaukee City employees have told him that they do carry conceal handguns while on the job, violating the City of Milwaukee Firearms and Dangerous Weapons prohibition policy.

Ald. Donovan cited a report by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn dated October 12 that since the beginning of January, 8 homicides and 137 non-fatal gunshot injuries were reported near or in the area of N. 19th Street and W. Meinecke Ave., but Alderman Russell W. Stamper responded that the crime report was not the issue and if the ASS workers knew of the crime statistics. The armed ASS workers were working on Ald. Stamper's district.

Ald. Donovan also said, that people were reluctant to come to Milwaukee for work due to fear of the high crime and issue of public safety, Ald. Stamper responded, that those people should seek employment elsewhere, if they have so much fear of working in Milwaukee.

Ald. Robert Bauman made the recommendation to stop hiring outside contractors and have City workers specialize on doing the needed work to have better control of policies and work done in the City.

Alderwoman Milele A. Goggs said that the N. 19 and W. Meinecke area was a nice area and development has been flourishing and she would like for contractors from the African-American community to be awarded contracts from the City to do the work needed in the predominantly African-American neighborhoods.

The PW Committee agreed to work with fellow aldermen/women to create a resolution that would clarify that contractors and their employees are prohibited from wearing or carrying firearms and dangerous weapons while doing City work and would also include that alderman from a district where a contractor is doing a job can decide to prevent a certain contractor from doing work in his or her district.