As a kid growing up on Milwaukee’s north side, Jeffrey Norman spent his days outside, playing neighborhood games with friends. A favorite was cops and robbers.
Decades later, Norman is chief of the Milwaukee Police Department. The leadership role is rooted in a sense of lifelong connection and responsibility to the city the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee alum serves today.
That feeling took hold at a young age. Raised by parents who emphasized education and civic engagement, Norman saw public service as a calling. His early interactions with law enforcement were positive, leading him to become a youth spokesperson for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.
“I was drawn to (the idea of) service to the community that shaped me,” Norman said. “It really solidified that I wanted to be a public servant.”
Always looking to learn
In 1992, Norman enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he received a full ride as a Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Scholar. As a first-generation student, Norman faced challenges adjusting to college life — but he quickly found his footing, joining a fraternity and flourishing in the classroom.
Already interested in law enforcement, he said his decision to major in criminal justice was influenced by longtime criminal justice professor Stan Stojkovic, who spent 40 years at UWM, including 16 as dean of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare. Norman formed a close relationship with Stojkovic, savoring the teacher’s passion and attending office hours even when he didn’t need academic help.
“He’d say, ‘Jeff, why are you here? You got an A,’” Norman said. “And I’d tell him, ‘I can always do better. I can always learn more.’”
Even after Norman graduated, Stojkovic continued to have an impact on his former student’s career journey, helping him get job offers, writing his law school letter of reference and acting as a mentor.
Moving forward
Norman credits his UWM experience with exposing him to new ideas, reinforcing his natural curiosity and helping him develop critical thinking and communication skills. He knew that those skills would help him as a professional — and he had lofty ambitions for his career.
“I wanted to be a police chief,” he said.
With that goal in mind, Norman earned a law degree from Marquette University in 2002. Over the next two decades, he progressed through the ranks as an officer, detective, lieutenant and captain. He also worked as an assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County, seeing the justice system from the prosecutor’s point of view and widening his own perspective.
In 2021, Norman was appointed and sworn in as chief of the Milwaukee Police Department. He was reappointed four years later.
A community-centered approach
Norman sees his position as an extension of his early values and speaks often about community-oriented policing. He stresses that public safety is a shared responsibility between law enforcement and citizens, which requires trust, collaboration, engagement and accountability.
Leading in the city where he was born and raised brings that responsibility into sharper focus.
“It’s humbling,” he said. “People don’t allow you to lead unless they trust you. We continue to strive to not only earn, but to keep and retain public trust.”
That trust, Norman believes, is built through consistency — showing up, listening and establishing relationships over time. As such, he works hard to stay connected to his community, including reading to local schoolchildren, partnering with the city on youth enrichment programs and reestablishing the Milwaukee Police Athletic League.
Staying connected to UWM
Norman also stays involved with his alma mater. He’s come to campus to speak to classes and strengthened a partnership between the police department and UWM’s School of Social Welfare. He said the university is vital to Milwaukee’s future, from preparing students for work in public service to facilitating broader civic discussions. In 2023, Norman received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.
“UWM is one of the foundation stones,” he said. “It enhances and elevates the city.”
After 30 years in law enforcement, Norman is increasingly focused on recruiting and mentoring the next generation of leaders — especially those coming out of the same Criminal Justice & Criminology program that launched his career. He noted the wide range of opportunities for graduates, from police officers and crime analysts to victim advocates, public defenders and more.
When Norman talks to young people, his advice is simple: Stay curious, speak up and take ownership of your path.
“What you get out of life is what you put into it,” Norman said. “You’ve got to be prepared when opportunities arise.”
