WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Wauwatosa's new police chief has now been on the job more than one month.

What You Need To Know

  • Wauwatosa's new police chief Jim MacGillis has now been on the job more than one month

  • Each morning, the new chief picks a different part of Wauwatosa to drive through to try and get some face-to-face time with citizens

  • MacGillis said it's important that civilians see him out and about within the community because "building public trust" is his top priority on the job

  • MacGillis said he's also working to diversify the department's hiring practices

Chief Jim MacGillis, a former Milwaukee Police Captain, said the new role is a dream job for him. He was born and raised in Wauwatosa, and remembers little things like playing with friends at Chippewa Park near 111th & Bluemound Road.

"Does this neighborhood still feel like home?" asked Spectrum News 1's Pete Zervakis.

"It does," MacGillis said with a smile, while looking out at Chippewa Park.

MacGillis said, since returning to Wauwatosa as Chief, he's been doing daily drives through different parts of the city. 

Each morning, the new chief picks a different part of Wauwatosa to drive through. The purpose is to try and get some face-to-face time with as many of Wauwatosa's citizens as possible.

MacGillis said it's important that civilians see him out and about within the community because "building public trust" is his top priority on the job.

He took the reigns at Wauwatosa Police after a rough year for the city.

Last fall, protests and even some property destruction followed the Milwaukee County District Attorney's decision to not charge former Wauwatosa Police officer Joseph Mensah in connection with the shooting death of Alvin Cole. 

It was the third time in five years Mensah shot and killed someone on the job. In all three cases, the district attorney ruled the use of force to be justified. 

Although earlier this summer, a Milwaukee County Judge ordered a special prosecutor to file charges in one of the cases: the 2016 officer-involved shooting death of Jay Anderson. 

Mensah no longer works for Wauwatosa Police. He's now working as a deputy for the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. 

But MacGillis said his department still has to own what happened as it also seeks to lead the Wauwatosa community moving forward.

He said he's working with the fire department to train Wauwatosa's dispatchers to better spot community bias in emergency calls.

MacGillis said he's also working to diversify the department's hiring practices. He'll also continue outreach to the community - whether it's with the government officials at city hall or just every day civilians. 

"This is an ongoing conversation," MacGillis said. "It can't just be a one-and-done thing." 

The Chief said he's using the same approach when it comes to improving safety at Mayfair, which he called "an integral hub of Wauwatosa."

"There have been some clashes, fights, in the past," MacGillis said. "People at Mayfair just want to feel safe." 

The chief said, much like he's made it a point of driving through Wauwatosa's different neighborhoods, he's also stopped in to speak with people and stay visible at the mall.

"Being present, being interactive, being communicative, that's so important," the Chief said.