Jessica McBride is Police Chief Edward Flynn’s Affair (PHOTOS)
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn had some explaining to do after it was revealed that the 61-year-old married man had been engaged in a romantic relationship with 39-year-old reporter Jessica McBride.
Picture of Jessica McBride is Police Chief Edward Flynn’s Affair (PHOTOS)
The affair, which started up earlier this year, was revealed by Daniel Bice of the Journel Sentinel, who obtained from an anonymous source, letters and e-mail messages that the couple had exchanged.
McBride, who also worked at the Journal Sentinel for ten years, is a journalism lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as well as a prominent figure in the communityregularly appears as a local talk show host and political blogger.
Jessica, married to Paul Bucher, former Waukesha County District Attorney, also writes for Milwaukee Magazine and earlier this year penned a 5,400 word piece on Flynn. Members of the police force ironically referred to the story as a love letter to the chief long before news of the affair surfaced.
A full two weeks passed after the news of the chiefs extramarital affair was revealed by Bice, with Flynn and McBride dodging reporters questions and barring the newsman from a press conference on a different matter. On Thursday, the chief finally made a public statement, though he did not mention McBride by name.
Flynn said, I have done my wife and family a great wrong, and I profoundly regret the hurt I have inflicted on them and others affected by my conduct. I accept the personal and public consequences of my private behavior. I have damaged my public reputation and violated the trust and love of my family.
A handwritten note penned by McBride and revealed by Bice said, I honestly had myself almost convinced that we were going to talk about the police department at Brocach (Irish Pub and Restaurant on Water Street) that night! Now that sounds so naive. But something special happened between us that night; I will always cherish it. A complete meeting on all levels - mind, body, heart that I have never experienced. You completed me that night.
Another interesting note is the fact that McBride has taught ethics as part of her journalism classes at UWM. According the SPJ code of ethics, a reporter should remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
Flynn took over his duties as Milwaukee Police Chief in January 2008. He was previously the Police Commissioner in Springfield, Massachusetts and prior to that worked in the Executive Office of Public Safety for then Governor Mitt Romney.
