Update: 5:27 p.m.
“The only choice was to leave,” now-retired former Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said to WTMJ’s John Mercure on Wisconsin’s Afternoon News. He said the decision involved finances.
“After discussing it with my wife, every day you spend with that demoted rank, you inherit that salary. It would be foolish to stay and lose my pension. There was no reason for me to stay and lose money on my pension and lose my salary.”
Morales expressed disagreement with how he was treated by the Fire and Police Commission, not only with the demotion, but with what he claims was said during their meeting with him.
“There were some very harsh words that were said.”
Morales shared thanks for the support he has received since his demotion process began.
“I really care about the men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department…I can’t thank them enough.”
Morales said attorney Frank Gimbel is “exploring all options” for potential legal action against the Fire and Police Commission.
Original report
After being demoted from Milwaukee Police Chief to a captain’s role in the Milwaukee Police Department, Alfonso Morales will retire from MPD, according to a report.
Frank Gimbel, Morales’ attorney, tells TMJ4 News that Morales will end his tenure with MPD.
The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission demoted Morales last Thursday on a unanimous vote. He had been asked to accomplish a series of directives by the commission involving full reports and audits of high-profile police incidents, such as the tasing of Bucks guard Sterling Brown in 2018 and the arrest of community activist Vaun Mayes in late June.
“A series of events and actions have occurred under the leadership of Alfonso Morales that are intolerable from any leader who holds a position of trust,” said Commissioner Raymond Robakowski at the time Morales was demoted. “His conduct is unbecoming, filled with ethical lapses and flawed decisions.”
“He has intentionally misled the public at numerous press conferences, YouTube videos and press releases in the past two weeks,” Robakowski added.
The demotion was not well received by several members of the police department, according to the officer’s union.
“A lot of them are mad. A lot of them are angry. Quite frankly, a lot of them are (expletive) off,” Milwaukee Police Association President Dale Bormann told WTMJ’s John Mercure on Wisconsin’s Afternoon News Friday. “They got rid of our leader.”
Bormann believes that Morales should have been given more time to complete a series of directives the FPC had asked for by August 6.
“It is unfair. At least give Chief Morales the opportunity to complete the directives. Give him the opportunity to show to the citizens of Milwaukee that he is the police chief and he completed all the directives,” he said.