MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) – Criminologist Sam Walker says his remarks saying errors in reporting violent crime statistics represent a failure in leadership are being misused in a campaign ad.

The television ad for the Scott Walker campaign contains a portion of the quote from Walker, positioned next to a picture of Walker’s opponent in Tuesday’s recall election, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Milwaukee police misclassified hundreds of violent crimes as minor assaults. Walker says he was referring to a failure of leadership in the police department – not the mayor’s office. He says elected officials would just accept the data police pass on.