Milwaukee PD Denied the Opportunity to Appear on ‘The First 48’

A Milwaukee City Council Committee voted Tuesday to deny the Milwaukee Police Department the opportunity to appear on A&E’s The First 48.

The First 48 is A&E’s flagship program. Cameras follow real homicide detectives over the first 48 hours of a homicide investigation. This is due to the notion that the first 48 hours of an investigation are the most crucial to solving a case.

The committee of councilmembers struck down the motion on a 5-0, with some citing the recent BBC documentary as reasoning. The 2016 BBC production Dark States: Murder in Milwaukee (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1748653955147652) was met with overwhelmingly negative response upon its release from city officials and community members. They felt it portrayed the city of Milwaukee in a negative light and did not want a repeat situation. However, representatives from the Milwaukee Police Department were more enthusiastic about the chance to work with A&E.

“I think this is a great opportunity for the city of Milwaukee to partner with The First 48,” said MPD inspector Paul Formolo. “I think it will highlight the passion the MPD puts into these investigations. Historically, we have some of the highest clearance rates in the country.”

“Clearance rates” are the number of solved homicide cases versus the number of unsolved cases.

Alderman Khalif Rainey of the 7th district was far less enthusiastic about the idea.

“What benefit is there to this?” Rainey asked. “Taking the grief and trauma of families and turning it into entertainment, I can’t be in support of that.”

Others in the meeting echoed Rainey’s sentiments.

“To prevent any further trauma, I am going to be an objection to this,” said 9th district Alderwoman Chantia Lewis.

The First 48 has been on the air since 2004. It has broadcast almost 450 episodes.

Erin McCarthy, a producer for series, spoke to the committee members. She informed them of the process by which A&E conducts their series.

“The participants we follow speak for themselves,” said McCarthy. “We will not air an episode if the families are not on board.”

Committee members asked her questions regarding the effectiveness of the show on stopping crime, as well as the lasting impact filming had on other communities. She did not give any direct numbers, but cited the many communities the show filmed in and referred to their continuing work with many of those communities.

In several cases, The First 48 has garnered controversy. Some cities have even terminated their contracts with the series.

In 2016 the city of New Orleans dropped their contract with The First 48 after producers of the show were accused of “complicating” a triple-murder case by withholding information. New Orleans Police Department Captain Michael Glasser held the same optimistic outlook about the show as MPD’s inspector Formolo.

“At a time when community relations are so fragile, locally and nationally, it was of enormous benefit to everyone to have an avenue open for the public to see what we do and how we do it,” said Glasser said at the time.

New Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Laurie White was far less enthused and held many of the same reservations as the Milwaukee City Council Committee members.

“I wish that the city would never contract with The First 48,” said White. “I now have a death penalty case in which three people were alleged to have been murdered. It causes the court great concern to have to deal with the additional problems.”

New Orleans is not the only city to have had issues with the show. In 2009, a murder case in Miami involving then 21-year-old Taiwan Smart was thrown out. The episode misrepresented a key witness’ statement that aired in the episode. Eventually, Smith sued the city for false imprisonment. In turn, the city of Miami ended its contract with The First 48. The episode continues to air without correction.

Eventually after everyone had said their piece during the council meeting, the motion moved towards a vote.

11th district Alderman Mark Borkowski was the only member who was skeptical about holding the vote.

“I ask for Alderman Rainey to hold his vote,” said Borkowski. “This is way too important for us to make a decision today.”

Alderman Rainey did move for a denial of the motion, which was approved by a 4-1 vote.

For now, A&E will have to look elsewhere.