Crime Watch Sign Program.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 116-4
in effect116-4. Crime Watch Sign Program.
1. ESTABLISHMENT. There is created a crime watch sign program to assist residents, businesses, property owners and the police department in identifying neighborhood crime watch areas, business watch areas and block watch areas, and in achieving the crime-prevention and crime-reduction goals of neighborhood watch, business watch and block watch groups and associations.
2. ELIGIBILITY. The chief of police shall establish eligibility guidelines for participation of neighborhoods, businesses and block watch groups in the crime watch sign program.
3. APPLICATION. A neighborhood association, business or block watch group interested in participation in the crime watch sign program shall apply to the police department through the community liaison officer at the district police station.
4. SIGN TYPES. Three types of signs shall be made available through the crime watch sign program:
a. Signs installed at locations along the perimeter of a participating neighborhood crime watch area announcing to persons passing the signs that they are entering a neighborhood crime watch area and that residents of the area report suspicious activity to the police department.
b. Signs installed in a business watch area indicating that a business watch program is in effect and that the participating business reports suspicious activity to other businesses in the area and to the police department.
c. Signs installed on an individual block announcing the presence of a neighborhood block watch and that residents report suspicious activity to the police department.
5. SIGN STANDARDS. To ensure consistent and effective signage, the chief of police shall, in coordination with the commissioner of public works, set standards for each of the 3 types of crime watch program signs described in sub. 4. These standards may relate to sign placement, size, wording, color, reflectivity and any other characteristic that the chief and commissioner deem appropriate. In addition, as required by s. 66.0429(2), Wis. Stats., the design of each sign type shall be approved by the Wisconsin department of transportation.
6. SIGN INSTALLATION. The department of public works shall install all signs to be placed under the crime watch sign program. Signs shall be installed on city poles in the public right-of-way. Sign installation shall be at no cost to the neighborhood association, participating business or block watch club, but the association, business or club shall be responsible for any maintenance costs or costs related to damaged, lost or stolen signs.
7. COSTS. At the discretion of the sponsoring neighborhood association, business or block watch club, fabrication of crime watch program signs may be performed either by the city or by a private vendor selected by the citywide block watch council established in s. 312-14. In either case, signs shall be fabricated in accordance with the standards promulgated by the chief of police and commissioner of public works under sub. 5. The neighborhood association, business or block watch club shall be responsible for all sign fabrication costs. At the discretion of the chief of police, the police department may also assume the costs of acquiring crime watch program signs.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH116.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/26/2026