MILWAUKEE — New data suggests that gun violence in Milwaukee is declining. Both homicides and non-fatal shootings have steadily decreased in the city over the past few years, according to Milwaukee Police Department data.  

But current Milwaukee homicide numbers are still higher than they were before the pandemic. The effort to reverse that is focused on community engagement and education.

Milwaukee native William Olivier looks at it as a personal responsibility. He is a published author, and community impact pastor for Bridge Builders, a nonprofit working to improve underserved neighborhoods.

“My hope is to help people really get a solid understanding of what firearm safety looks like,” he said.

Olivier goes out into the community to talk with people of all ages and backgrounds about gun safety and healthy conflict resolution.

He does it in honor of some friends he lost to gun violence. Olivier said he remembers having a fascination with guns as a young boy growing up on the city’s northside.

As a teenager seeking belonging, he met someone in his neighborhood who had a reputation as a drug dealer. That man allowed Olivier to carry his gun, and act as an unofficial body guard. There were close calls, but he never got shot or shot somebody else.

“I realized that I could easily count 25 people who lost their lives, and then I started thinking about people that I know who’ve taken their lives, and that’s also at least 25 people,” said Olivier“I realized that I could easily count 25 people who lost their lives, and then I started thinking about people that I know who’ve taken their lives, and that’s also at least 25 people,” said Olivier, describing the moment he decided his mission would be to raise awareness about responsible gun ownership.

Unlike many others he knew, Olivier was able to make it out of that lifestyle and earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

He has a concealed-carry permit and carries a gun regularly. He often brings it with him to teach people about how to handle and store a gun safely.

“It is really important because most young boys and men are curious about guns,” he said. “It’s important to show them the proper way, because a lot of them are basing what they know about guns from YouTube, music videos, social media.”

As Olivier was out in a neighborhood going door to door one afternoon, he talked with resident Tiffany Terry about gun safety. She said she’s appreciative of the work he’s doing. 

“So many innocent people, children’s lives have been taken because no one put in place gun safety,” Terry said. “He’s taught me how to put the gun on safety. Always if you have a gun, double lock it, especially if you have small children around.”

Olivier said every conversation he has is a chance to lower the number of gun deaths and injuries in Milwaukee.