The Wauwatosa Police Department is sparing no resources this weekend to see to it that as many people as possible get the message: Don't drink and drive.
Besides the usual contingent of patrol officers, an additional 20 officers will be on the road over all or parts of five consecutive shifts, from Saturday afternoon through most of Sunday, specifically on the lookout for drunken drivers.
To start things off, Wauwatosa will again host six other departments covering the metro northwest quadrant in a high-visibility, streetside roll call Saturday.
At 3 p.m., the curb at Mo's Irish Pub, 10842 Blue Mound Rd., will be crowded with squad cars – and they want to be seen.
"The idea is, people will see us out there and know we are watching and in force," said Lt. Tim Sharpee. "Hopefully, they will decide not to drink and drive.
"We want people to enjoy themselves, but the message is: Find another way.
"Mo's is partnering with us on this, and they're doing a great job of getting that message out, too. They're running shuttles, they'll call you a cab. They don't want you to be a danger to yourself and others, and neither do we.
"We'd love it if we made no arrests because nobody took the risk. But we will enforce the law."
Sharpee said that four more officers per shift will be called on for High-Visibility OWI Task Force deployment running from 3 p.m. Saturday through 3 a.m. Sunday, then picking up again at 7 a.m. Sunday and running almost until midnight.
The overtime pay is coming through several grants through the U.S. Bureau of Transportation and Safety.
"We're pulling from all our grants for this one," Sharpee said, "Speed, seat belt, and of course OWI."
Results of the metro-wide deployment will be reported Monday.
The following law enforcement departments are involved:
Northwest Quadrant:
- Wauwatosa PD
- Brookfield PD
- Town of Brookfield PD
- West Allis PD
- State Patrol
- Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department
- Menomonee Falls PD
Roll Call at 3 p.m. in front of Mo’s Irish Pub: 10900 blk of Bluemound Rd.
Southwest Quadrant:
- Greendale PD
- Hales Corners PD
- Greenfield PD
- Franklin PD
Roll Call at 3 p.m. at 5911 W. Grange Ave., Greendale
Southeast Quadrant:
- St. Francis PD
- South Milwaukee PD
- Cudahy PD
Roll Call at 2 p.m. at 10th Street and Milwaukee Avenue
Central Quadrant:
- Milwaukee PD
- Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department
- State Patrol
Roll Call at 8 p.m. in front of Mo’s Irish Pub-Downtown, 142 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Northeast Quadrant:
- Bayside PD
- Fox Point PD
Roll Call at 8 p.m. in front of Mo’s Irish Pub-Downtown, 142 W. Wisconsin Ave.
