Federal Grand Jury Indicts Former Milwaukee Police Officer

A federal grand jury has indicted former Milwaukee Police Department Detective Rodolfo Gomez, Jr. for willfully depriving an in-custody subject of his civil right not to be subjected to excessive force.

If convicted, Gomez could be sentenced to a maximum possible term of imprisonment of ten years, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a term of supervised release not to exceed three years.

The charge is based on the allegation that, in an interview room in the Police Administration Building on August 14, 2013, Gomez repeatedly punched the victim in the face and head and kneed him in the torso, all while one of the victim’s hands was handcuffed to a wall in the interview room.

According to the release, Gomez stopped punching and kicking the victim when a police lieutenant who heard yelling entered the room. The indictment alleges that the force used was unreasonable and that the victim suffered bodily injury.

This case was investigated by the FBI, building upon an earlier investigation done by the Milwaukee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad and Assistant United States Attorney Mel S. Johnson.