List of chiefs of the Milwaukee Police Department

Cross to replace the position of city sheriff.

He appointed William Beck, a former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, as the first chief, a position he held until his resignation in 1861; he later served two more non-consecutive terms.

[2][3] The Fire and Police Commission was founded in 1885 with the sole authority to select and remove chiefs, replacing the previous system.

In 1888, the commission fired Florian J. Ries, who had been appointed by Mayor Emil Wallber, and selected John T. Janssen, who served as chief until his resignation in 1921.

[5] The current chief is Jeffrey B. Norman, who entered office in December 2020.