Milwaukee Police Chief Morales is Reappointed

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission reappointed Police Chief Alfonso Morales for another term late Wednesday night, after a last minute decision to hold the meeting.

Morales is the current Milwaukee police chief, who took over after Edward Flynn retired in the middle of his four-year term in February 2018. Morales’ interim term was set to end Jan. 7, 2020.

DeVougas Delays

Commissioner Steven DeVougas cast the deciding vote for Morales’ initial appointment. However, now he has been accused of slowing down the reappointment date to allow for more public comment.

Commissioner DeVougas is the Police Chairman, and Commissioner Nelson Soler is the Police Vice Chairman. Despite DeVougas’ delays, Soler called this meeting on Tuesday night, following the 24-hour public meeting notice and following the initial schedule set in October.

In addition to his many roles, DeVougas is an attorney for the Haywood Group, specializing in real-estate. Because of his influence, he has faced recent criticism from the Milwaukee Police Association, calling him to resign after representing a client who was being interviewed by the Milwaukee Police Department. (MPD)

“It’s like a soap opera,” said Victor Huyke, publisher of El Conquistador Latino Newspaper.

The commissioners had a long night at city hall. Prior to the reappointment another meeting was held to discuss Standard Operating Procedure 130, which prohibits the MPD from collaborating with I.C.E.

Rallies from the Latino community filled the halls singing and chanting in regards to the immigration issue and overall representation in Milwaukee.

After SOP 130 was passed, the reappointment meeting began with over an hour of community members’ opinions on Morales, the Milwaukee Police Department, and whether the vote for reappointment should be postponed.

Public Comment

At first it started as an affirmation fest of Morales:

“I’m here to support the chief,” said Keith Stanley, executive director of Near West Side Partners.

“I’m here to express my full support of the reappointment of Chief Morales,” said Teresa Mercado, executive director of the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation.

“It’s very odd for a police union to support the police chief,” said Shawn Lauda, Milwaukee police association president. “My members follow Chief Morales; he inspires my members.”

Historically, in Milwaukee, chiefs have often been at loggerheads with the union, dating back to the days of Robert Ziarnik.

Criticism

However, then the comments of a racial divide in the city were brought to the microphone.  

Representatives of Latino and African-American groups said they have felt unrepresented, targeted, or just unheard by the MPD.

In an effort to address these issues and provide greater notice to the entire City of Milwaukee, Commissioner Everett Cocroft made a motion to delay the reappointment vote.

As well as public comment, a letter from nine of Milwaukee’s 15 alderman urged the board to postpone their vote:

“We urge you to reconsider and postpone the re-appointment of Chief Morales until a far better process can be created and shared with the community. In the interest of bringing closure to this matter, it seems reasonable that your decision could be made within the next 30 days.”

After almost two hours in a crowded city hall room, the final vote was 4-2 with one abstained vote.

“That was very difficult, and that was very divided,” said Commissioner Angela McKenzie. “And that is the essence of Milwaukee.”

Morales is a native to Milwaukee and gave hugs to his many supporters in the community.

“We’re gonna move forward into 2020,” said Morales.