City-County Heroin, Opioid, and
Cocaine Task Force
March 16, 2017

Ald. Michael J. Murphy
(414) 286-3763

First meeting tomorrow for City-County Heroin,
Opioid and Cocaine Task Force
The newly-created City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force will meet for the first
time tomorrow (Friday, March 17) at City Hall.
According to task force member Alderman Michael J. Murphy, the meeting will take place at 1
p.m. in room 301-B at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. The task force is charged with studying the problems
of drug abuse in Milwaukee County and presenting policy recommendations to address the issue.
“The stark data shows that drug overdose deaths continue to climb in our community, and that the
deaths are impacting all groups and all areas,” Alderman Murphy said.
“The important work of the City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force will include
analyzing the problem with the help of stakeholders from throughout the community and producing
policy recommendations to help address this startling, deadly trend,” he said.
The roster of task force members is attached.
Alderman Murphy was the primary sponsor of the legislation creating the task force, which will
build on the city’s partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin and data analysis by Alderman
Murphy’s office. An early examination of overdose figures showed the county was on pace to endure a
record number of heroin and opiate overdose deaths in 2016.
“Drug abuse and addiction affect nearly every citizen in our community,” Milwaukee County
Executive Chris Abele said. “Instead of stigmatizing these individuals and their families and addressing
addiction solely through the criminal justice system, it is imperative that we tackle this public health crisis
with supportive, evidence-based resources. The county looks forward to working with the city, the
medical community, law enforcement, the courts, faith-based and community organizations, and partners
at every level of government in taking a proactive approach to preventing and treating addiction.”
When its work is completed the task force will issue a report of recommendations later this year
that will be transmitted to the Common Council and to Milwaukee County officials.
-30-

 City-County Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force
11 Member Body (6 quorum)
Membership

1.

Michael Murphy

Common Council President appointee
10th Aldermanic District

2.

Khalif Rainey

Common Council President appointee
7th Aldermanic District

3.

Bevan Baker

Commissioner of Health
Commissioner of Health

4.

Karen Loebel

Milwaukee County District Attorney designee
Deputy District Attorney

5.

CoryAnn St. Marie-Carls

Milwaukee County Intergovernmental
Cooperation Council representative
Mayor of St. Francis

6.

Marisol Cervera

Mayoral community appointee
United Community Center

7.

E. Brooke Lerner

Mayoral medical profession appointee
Ph.D, Research Director
Medical College of Wisconsin
Department of Emergency Medicine

8.

Hector Colon

Milwaukee County Executive appointee
Director
Department of Health and Human Services

9.

Michael Lappen

Milwaukee County Executive appointee
Adminstrator
Behavior Health Division

10.

Brian Peterson

Milwaukee County Executive appointee
Medical Examiner
Medical Examiner’s Office

11.

Christine Westrich

Milwaukee County Executive appointee
Director
Office of Emergency Management