Latest news with #ShawnRolland
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Forensic Science Facility, Milwaukee County says work halfway done
The Brief The Forensic Science and Protective Medicine Facility is more than halfway complete. It is Milwaukee County's future hub for public safety and will house a state crime lab. Construction is slated to be completed next spring. MILWAUKEE - A new state-of-the-art crime lab is coming to Milwaukee County, and FOX6 News got a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility's progress on Friday. What they're saying After two years of construction, Milwaukee County said the Forensic Science and Protective Medicine Facility is more than halfway complete. It is the county's future hub for public safety. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "This idea of the facility is finally becoming a reality," Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said. "This project not just reflects the physical construction of a building, but the construction of a stronger, healthier community," said Dr. Ben Weston, the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management's chief medical director. The facility will soon house the county's office of emergency management, the medical examiner's office and a state crime lab. "If you've ever been to the medical examiner's office downtown, there's no elbow room to do anything," said Milwaukee County Supervisor Shawn Rolland. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Although the amount of space in the office has remained the same, the medical examiner said the number of autopsies her office performs each year has more than doubled – jumping from roughly 700 in 2006 to 2,000 in 2024. "They are not for the prosecution, they are not for the defense, they are for justice and truth," Rolland said. The county said the facility will have a major impact on solving crimes and enhancing public safety. "Shared understanding of advancing public safety and public health and how these two things can go hand-in-hand," said Weston. What's next Construction is slated to be completed next spring. The Source Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews, Milwaukee County offices and Versiti.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
Abandoned boat, Milwaukee County researching who's responsible
The Brief A boat has been abandoned at Milwaukee's lakefront for nearly six months. Milwaukee County is researching which government body is responsible for it. Attempts to contact the boat's owners, who skipped town, have been unsuccessful. MILWAUKEE - As the saga of a boat abandoned at Milwaukee's lakefront unfolds, the county is researching which government body is responsible for freeing it. The backstory The boat – "Deep Thought" – has been washed ashore just south of Bradford Beach for nearly six months. It ran out of gas and got stuck in the sand. The owners, from Mississippi, skipped town. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Earlier this week, FOX6 News talked to a man who said he's spent a lot of time and money trying to salvage the boat. He said he wants the city's help, but the county is now considering making the boat's owners pay. "A beautiful area – and then there's this boat," said Milwaukee County Supervisor Shawn Rolland. "They sort of dump their boat on our beach, it's still sitting there – and in my mind – that qualifies as illegal dumping." Dig deeper Although it's technically the boat owners' responsibility to remove it, the man who has spent hours and nearly $20,000 trying to do so said the owners stopped returning his calls in December. FOX6 News tried to contact the owners as well, but never heard back. "We have to start getting these wheels turning and get that boat out of the water," said Rolland. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Rolland said the first step is figuring out which government body is responsible for the boat's removal. The second step, he said, is figuring out how to pay for its salvage. "Our ordinances allow us to fine the boat owners up to $5,000 for this 'illegal dumping' that's been done here," said Rolland, adding the county could also work with the district attorney's office to pursue additional fines. "Not sure, but confident that we will be able to get this out of the water without having this be a burden to taxpayers." What's next While the county works to figure out which entity the job ultimately falls on, spectators continue to enjoy what could be their final weeks seeing "Deep Thought." Rolland said there's no timeline for when anything will be known, but the Milwaukee County Office of Corporation Counsel will make the call of which entity it falls on. The Source FOX6 News interviewed Milwaukee County Supervisor Shawn Rolland and reference prior coverage of the abandoned boat for information in this report.
