Former Milwaukee Police Detective Pleads Guilty to Depriving a Suspect His Civil Rights

A former Milwaukee Police Department detective pleaded guilty Tuesday to depriving an arrestee of his civil rights by assaulting him while he was handcuffed to an interview-room wall.

According to a press release from the United States Attorney, Rodolfo Gomez, Jr. pleaded guilty to depriving an in-custody suspect of his civil rights under color of law in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242.

In connection with his guilty plea, Gomez admitted that he 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 an interview room. Gomez stopped punching and kicking the victim when a police lieutenant who heard yelling entered the room. In pleading guilty, Gomez acknowledged 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.