Former Milwaukee police chief and city fail to reach settlement, case heads back to court

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The battle between former Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales and the city rages on, and without a resolution, Morales will be chief again in just 12 days.

Morales wants the city to pay up or give him his job back, after the city admitted his rights were violated when he was demoted last year.

Earlier this month, Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman said he expected the city to settle.

"I don't think any of my colleagues want to see him return as police chief," Ald. Bauman said in a June 9 interview with CBS 58. "I don't think the mayor wants to see him return as police chief. I don't think the Fire and Police Commission wants him to return as police chief."

On June 10, when the two sides agreed to mediation, Mayor Tom Barrett seemed optimistic about a resolution.

"You can see from the comments that were made, there is hopefully a serious mediation effort that's going to take place," said Mayor Barrett on June 10.

But that mediation happened Saturday, and Frank Gimbel, an attorney for Morales, says no agreement was reached.

Now the case heads back to court.

Last month, a judge ruled Morales would become chief again on July 3 unless an agreement is reached. The city filed a motion trying to stop that from happening. That motion will be argued on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Gimbel tells CBS 58, "I will strenuously oppose the request to stay the return of Chief Morales."

Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer did not return a request for comment.