MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Confirmation of new Milwaukee’s new Director of the Department of Community Wellness and Safety Karin Tyler is on hold.
This after Alderwoman Sharlen Moore, ahead of a possible Common Council vote to approve her appointment March 24, asked to send the matter back to committee after raising concerns about Tyler’s ability to lead the office.
“I have some grave concerns in regards to the appointment’s ability to run a department, specifically after the individual has been looked over several times,” said Moore.
Tyler was nominated for the director job by Mayor Cavalier Johnson in February following the sudden resignation of former director Adam Procell. She has been with the department through several changes in leadership since joining the then-Office of Violence Prevention in 2017, and has been serving as the interim director in the wake of Procell’s resignation. Tyler was one of three finalists for the director’s job prior to Mayor Johnson selecting Procell; that decision led to members of the Common Council moving to make the then-Office of Community Wellness and Safety its own department as part of the 2026 City budget, affording the body the ability to confirm the mayor’s nominee.
“The administration remains confident that Karin Tyler’s appointment will be approved, notwithstanding this delay,” said a spokesperson for Mayor Johnson.
Tyler did not respond to a request for comment by the time of this article’s publication.
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Moore’s concerns included remarks made by Tyler during a hearing on her nomination held by the Public Safety and Health Committee March 13, when she was unable to answer a question by the alderwoman as to what the leading cause of death is among children in the United States (gun violence).
“For an individual that runs an office around gun violence, and [to] not know…that the leading cause of death among children are guns. That struck a chord in me,” said Alderwoman Moore March 24. “[We] have to get out of just giving people positions just because they’ve been with us for a period of time.”
Andrea Pratt, Mark Chambers, Laressa Taylor, and DiAndre Jackson voted against delaying Tyler’s confirmation.
“While I do think some of the conversation could have been better, I think it was perfectly clear that she deserves a chance to lead this department,” said Chambers.
During discussion, several alders also expressed concern that DCWS was not among the entities that received a portion of nearly $15 million in grant awards from the Wisconsin OVP March 23.
“That was a huge red flag and something certainly worth drilling down about,” said Alderman Scott Spiker. “Certainly somebody operating in the number two position as operations [director]…They cannot be absolved of any responsibility there. I don’t think that’s legitimate.” Spiker had previously voted against Tyler’s nomination at the March 12 Public Safety and Health Committee hearing, while Moore had abstained from voting one way or another.
Meanwhile, the state OVP awarded Milwaukee County’s Department of Health and Human Services $238,729 for suicide prevention and firearm storage, as well as $1,573,082 for evidence-based violence intervention and outreach programs.
“Mental wellness and community safety are two key focus areas in our 2025 – 2027 strategic plan. This funding will have a tremendously positive impact on advancing the work in these areas,” said DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain in a press release. “We will work closely with our community partners to implement proven models and national best practices in addressing community violence.”
The state OVP did not respond to a request for comment on the decision to omit DCWS from grant awards.
The next Public Safety and Health Committee meeting is scheduled for April 10; no agenda has been uploaded.
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