In a ruling made Friday. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Foley has reversed the decision made by the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission to demote former police chief Alfonso Morales to Captain.
The FPC’s decision on August 6 came after the Commission felt Morales failed to meet 11 directives they had set for him several weeks earlier.
Morales has retired from the force, and filed a lawsuit against the city and the FPC for how his demotion occurred.
“The reversal means that captain demotion is no longer in effect,” says Morales’ attorney Frank Gimbel to WTMJ, “and his position as chief is reinstated as of the time of the demotion, which was the evening of August 6.
“Now how do we play this down the road?” ask Gimbel. “I talk to (Morales) and he’s waiting for me to give him some directions, and I’m waiting for some responsible, relevant human being speaking for the city of Milwaukee to have a conversation with me about where do we go from here. Do they want him to show up from work tomorrow with his uniform on, or will there be some other arrangement?
“As of this moment, Alfonso Morales is the Chief of Police of the City of Milwaukee, the same that he was going into the Fire and Police Commission meeting on August 6th of this year.”
The judge’s ruling did not include any guidance as to how the FPC should proceed. The commission decided Thursday to appoint Jeffrey Norman to fill in as acting chief once current acting chief Michael Brunson retires on December 23.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.
