Mayor Dave Ross

We Are Here

You Are Here

• Population 27,268

• 58 sworn officers

• 47 square miles of City

• Surrounded by 96 miles of shoreline

• Sits on the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior

• Industrial, blue collar town

• Reputation as a party town

Superior, Wisconsin

Facts

• Superior has had a high crime rate and experienced increases in violent crime, property crime and financial crime.

• Superior’s crime rate by population has been in the top ten over the last ten years in the state of WI.

• Alcohol abuse affects our crime rate

Superior has 77 liquor licenses and 25 Class A (beer only) licenses -- one of

the highest bar per capita communities in Wisconsin.

Superior’s old north end bar district, home of many major liquor

establishments

Alcohol-Related Incidents 2003 208 Assaults

495 Disorderly Conducts 238 Liquor Law Violations

The Superior P.D. averages nearly 300 ‘Operating While

Intoxicated’ (OWI) arrests per year

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Big Contributing Factors

• Metropolitan area

• Border Community

• Port City

• Too many large liquor only bars in the same geographic area

• Party town reputation

• College community (5 in Twin Ports area)

In 2003, there was an increase in community and

bar violence• 12 stabbings, many in bar district

• Several shootings in the bars

• Many assaults and substantial battery cases

• Two controversial deaths of young adults in our bar district, one in a fight and one a drug overdose

Redesigned Our Approach to Reducing Bar Violence

• Met with tavern league - Laid out problems – Said bar owners needed to be more responsible

• Had special group of officers work on problem bar issues, also used foot, bike, and K-9 patrol

• Trained officers to meet with bars and do regular alcohol issue inspections for licensing, underage drinking, and occupancy level violations

Enforced violations involving public consumption; mutual combatants fighting (ordinance violation); disorderly conduct; urinating in public; and littering

Strong Support From Mayor & City Hall

Changed philosophy about liquor licenses:

- A new “best use, best location” strategy for licenses

• Example: Chinese Restaurant (The Golden Inn)

- Took back liquor licenses from mismanaged bars

- Purchased bars & tear them down for economic development & to reduce bar concentration

- Supported police department efforts and staffing

• Met with the media to ensure accurate reporting of facts and problems

Progress 3 Years Later

• The City’s image/reputation is improving

• New developments in the north end

• Fewer calls for service to bars

• Assaults and weapon calls down at bars

• City’s crime rate has dropped to 14th in the State by population. We’re out of the top ten for the first time in over ten years.