Milwaukee FPC Still Can’t Break Tie

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission met last Thursday to see if any members were willing to change their position on who they want for the next chief of police in Milwaukee.

The meeting helped nothing as it ended still in a tie at 3-3 between Malik Aziz, who is the deputy police chief, and FBI Agent Hoyt Mahaley, who is from Milwaukee. 

The next meeting to discuss who will be the next Milwaukee Chief of Police has been tabled until Jan 7, 2021. 

During the meeting, commissioners gave their opinion on why they were in favor for one candidate or the other. 

“I’m looking for a fresh set of eyes and someone who has the skill set to serve on the local, national and international level,” said Commissioner Angela Mckenzie, who backs Aziz as the next Milwaukee Chief of Police. 

Amanda Avalos has been nominated by Mayor Tom Barrett to be the seventh member of the Milwaukee FPC to help break the tie currently in choosing the next Chief Police. 

Avalos had a meeting via zoom Saturday, to answer questions before she has a formal meeting on Dec 14. 

After the first 3-3 tie, the commission was hesitant to add another member to the commission this late in the process.

The commission stated that its reluctant to bring on a seventh member due to the fact that Avalos hasn’t been a part of the private interviews with the candidates for the next Chief of Police. 

When it comes to preparing for making her decision, Avalos said she would review all the materials made available to her. 

She will be also very interested in each candidate’s vision of “public safety” means to them and how they plan to influence the culture within the Milwaukee Police Department. 

Before Avalos’ nomination, she and her employer have called for more extensive police reform in Milwaukee and nationally, including “defunding” of police departments in order to reinvest tax dollars into social programs. 

Avalos, since February has been the civic engagement director for Leaders Igniting Transformation, a youth advocacy group. 

The choices have been narrowed down two choices. Deputy Police Chief Malik Aziz from Dallas, Texas and Special Agent Hoyt Mahaley from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Special Agent Mahaley got his start in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as part of the local police department. He served as an officer for five years until he got a job as a special agent part of the Gang, Drug and Violent crimes squad.

While part of this squad he was lead case agent for numerous complex drug trafficking investigations where subjects used bribes, violence and intimidation to further their illegal activities.

Since being a special agent in 1997 until now. Mahaley has climbed the ranks, help many different positions within the FBI. 

From finally being a technically trained agent in 2012. To being part of a cyber squad where he was hand selected to rebuild a squad suffering from the results of a failed leadership team. 

Malik Aziz the other top candidate for Milwaukee Chief of Police. He’s from Dallas and graduated from the University of Dallas as well. 

Aziz is currently the Deputy Chief of Police and has been serving in that position since January of 1992.

He is the former Executive Director of the National Black Police Association, where he held that position for eight years. This organization is dedicated to promoting justice, fairness and effectiveness in law enforcement. 

Currently he now is the Executive Director of P.A.C.T. (Police and Communities Together) and has held that position since August of 2017.

Aziz is also skilled in Law Enforcement Analysis, Nonprofit Organizations, Budgeting and Policy Analysis and to top it all off he has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) focused in Non-Profit, Public, and Organizational Management from The University of Dallas.

The Milwaukee Common Council’s Public Safety and Health Committee voted to approve two nominees for Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission.

The next step for the nominees is to now be approved by the full council.

Leon Todd has been nominated to be the next executive director of the Fire and Police Commission. The committee voted unanimously to move him to the full council. 

Committee members voted 3-2 to move Amanda Avalos forward.