Proposal lets aldermen fire police chief
Change would require approval from state; Milwaukee mayor vows to fight new plan
The Milwaukee Common Council would have the power to fire the city’s police chief under a proposal that has the support of a politically diverse group of aldermen.
Ald. Tony Zielinski unveiled the measure Tuesday during a Common Council meeting.
A draft of the plan said the council is “an appropriate body in which to vest authority to remove from office a chief of police who no longer has the faith and support of the community and its elected officials.”
The change would require state approval.
Zielinski and Ald. Mark Borkowski are the lead sponsors. Other council members — including Alds. Milele Coggs, Chantia Lewis, Bob Bauman — said they are open to the proposal.
“We are held so accountable for public safety issues that it makes it very difficult for us to not be able to hold the chief public safety officer as accountable as we have to be to those who elect us,” Coggs said.
Mayor Tom Barrett said he would fight the change.
“I will oppose any attempt to dilute and undermine the statutory authority of the citizen member Fire and Police Commission. The commission is a national model,” Barrett said in a statement. “Politicizing the operations of the fire and police departments is horrible public policy and would run contrary to the principles of citizen oversight and engagement.”
A spokesman for the Milwaukee Police Department declined to comment.
Zielinski mentioned the plan during a discussion about how police use asset forfeiture money.
Ald. Russell Stamper raised moral concerns about using seized money to pay for law enforcement expenses.
“I thought drug money was burned somewhere. But it’s not,” Stamper said. “Is there a moral concern about using drug money for services for the Police Department?”
Stamper argued that money seized from drug dealers “is bad,” and, if anything, should be used for things like drug treatment. He also decried what he saw as a lack of communication from the Police Department, and specifically Police Chief Edward Flynn.
“All we have is the money,” Stamper said. “You want this money, you work with us on how to apply it.”
He pushed to hold approving the department’s use of asset forfeiture money so council members could discuss it with police. That move passed on a 10-5 vote.
By state law, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission has the authority to appoint the chiefs of both the Police and Fire Departments.
The commission, one of the most powerful civilian oversight boards in the country, also is responsible for recruiting and testing police and fire employees; investigating and monitoring citizen complaints; and hearing disciplinary appeals.
The commissioners are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Common Council. Some aldermen have voiced frustration that the council only controls the Police Department’s budget and the commission controls everything else.
Council President Ashanti Hamilton and Ald. Michael Murphy said they do not support Zielinski’s proposal. Ald. Khalif Rainey, through an aide, declined to comment.
Alds. Nik Kovac and Cavalier Johnson said it was the first they had heard of the proposal and would have to look at the details before commenting.
Ald. Terry Witkowski said he’s against the proposal. The shift would politicize the process, making it difficult to recruit and keep top talent, he said.
Ald. Bob Donovan said he opposed the change but added that he’s been disappointed in Flynn’s performance.
“I don’t think the chief would survive a vote, quite frankly,” Donovan said of the proposal.