From 2020 to 2023, the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) Dive Rescue and Fire Boat Teams have responded to over 250 calls, with many tragically resulting in fatalities. In response to increasing cases, MFD launched WaterSAFE MKE — and Traction Factory, among other partners on the working team, are supporting this initiative to promote safe usage of the abundant water resources for residents and visitors in Milwaukee County.

The initiative was inspired by Milwaukee Fire and Police Commissioner LaNelle Ramey’s deeply personal experience of losing his stepson, Avery Meeks Jr., who drowned in the Milwaukee River in 2020. The tragedy motivated Ramey, with Chief Aaron Lipski and community stakeholders, to lay the groundwork for WaterSAFE MKE in December 2023.

The program has initially installed one life ring commemorating the tragedy, with additional planned placements of lifesaving buoyant rings adjacent to waterways throughout the county (Lake Michigan, Milwaukee River, Menomonee River, KK River) soon to come. These installations, guided by incident mapping tracked by MFD, serve as critical interventions for emergency response efforts to educate individuals on the safety equipment, ultimately increasing the likelihood of survival during water-related incidents.

WaterSAFE MKE is poised to make a lasting impact, and we’re proud to participate in a program that allows people to access the available waterways with an additional layer of safety. A safer Milwaukee is a more attractive Milwaukee for residents and visitors alike — and this initiative helps to do just that.