The Milwaukee Police Association said officers were stunned that the escalating violence against police in the city was coming straight to one of their own buildings.

“They are shocked. They are angry,” said Andrew Wagner, the association’s president.

According to police, on Friday afternoon a man walked into the lobby of District 5 and began shooting at officers.

The police returned fire, sending the man running out of the station. Police said they chased him on foot and shot him multiple times near 6th Street and Locust.

Police have not identified the shooter, but they say he is expected to survive his injuries.

Under state law, West Allis police are currently investigating as it is a shooting involving an officer.

Wagner and the Milwaukee Police Association help police officers through these difficult experiences.

“No officer wants to fire their gun, ever. We had a number of officers do it yesterday and it’s also traumatic,” he said.

There has been an increase in violence against police this year in Milwaukee.

Last month, two Milwaukee police officers and a Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy were shot multiple times in separate incidents. All three survived.

“We continue to cheer them on knowing that most of the community supports them,” Wagner said. “Poll after poll shows that they [the public] respect law enforcement and that they are there for them.

As crime increases overall, Wagner says, it’s the police and the community that suffer.

“It doesn’t just affect officers. It affects our community and they live in a place of crime and disorder and something needs to be changed,” he said.

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