MILWAUKEE -- Edward Flynn, Milwaukee's soon-to-be police chief, voiced his awareness of concerns in regards to problems within the police department and explained he is in favor of thorough background checks before hiring, taking close note of officers' patterns in terms of civilian complaints and possible retraining programs, during a visit to the city this past Thursday.

The current police commissioner in Springfield, Mass., who has served as chief in four separate locations, spent the day getting acquainted with the local media at a Milwaukee Press Club Newsmaker’s Luncheon, held at the Midwest Airlines Center.

Flynn fielded questions on the state of the Milwaukee Police Department, including his stance on a controversial immigration policy, his plans for a historically debated gang squad and internal misconduct.

Flynn, who has been serving in law enforcement for 36 years, made sure to state that while it's easy to focus on the negative, when incidents such as the Frank Jude beating are linger in the air, the public must remember "where we were."

"I've seen police institutions that are far more tolerant, diverse, trained, selective than they ever were when I started out," Flynn said.

Flynn was enthusiastic about making a difference in the community, using George Kelling's "Broken Windows" approach to law enforcement and forming working relationships between community members and the police department.

"The great American tragedy is that where policing is needed the most, where quality policing is most demanded, where people are most physically at risk, are the exact same neighborhoods where stress and tension between police and the community are highest," said Flynn, whose goal is to regain trust in these areas.

Flynn was asked if he agreed with Chief Nannette Hegerty's implication that guns were the problem in regards to the two MPD officers recently shot in a gang war. Flynn believes that while access to guns is a significant problem, it is a "third rail" in the culture war. He is in favor of finding ways to limit access for people of criminal propensities from getting their hands on high-powered weapons, including looking into straw purchases.

The newly selected chief was asked if he would repeal or continue on with a policy through which Milwaukee officers are "prohibited from informing federal immigration officials of the whereabouts or behavior of any suspected illegal immigrants or foreign visitors in some cases."

"Seems reasonable to me," Flynn said, after being read the details of the policy.

"What I know is there are 33,000 [ICE] beds, 12 million [undocumented people here]. I want those beds reserved for violent felons."

In terms of a gang squad, disbanded by Chief Arthur Jones and reinstated by Hegerty, Flynn stated that he hadn't given it much thought as of yet and that he would like to examine the pros and cons to the tactic. While he values a generalist law enforcement approach as opposed to specialists, he understands the advantages a unit will bring, such as usable, active intelligence.

Flynn was also asked if he would consider raising the maximum starting age for joining the force, which he said was worth taking a closer look at in the near future, stating that there was value in maturity and wisdom.

In terms of the state law that allows fired officers to be paid while they are waiting on their appeals to be processed, Flynn said it "needs to be reexamined" and labeled it "unique to Milwaukee."

When asked his opinion of concealed carry, Flynn said, "We can’t have an ordinance that supersedes the law." Wisconsin state law currently prohibits concealed weapons.

The event concluded with members of the media wishing Flynn good luck. The new chief will, reportedly, be sworn in later this month or in early January.