Mayor Barrett promises change is coming to Milwaukee's FPC
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett promised change is coming to the city's Fire and Police Commission just days after a judge reversed former Police Chief Alfonso Morales' demotion to captain.
Mayor Barrett stopped short of asking members to resign. He asked for the public to give him six to seven months. That's when several members' terms will conclude.
"There are many positions coming open in the next six or seven months and you will see changes, we will certainly see changes," said Mayor Barrett.
He said the commissioners made a huge mistake in August demoting Chief Alfonso Morales.
"I raised concerns about the way the Fire and Police Commission handled the case literally within minutes of its decision," said Barrett.
He said a judge's reversal of the demotion only confirmed his worries.
"I could see there were problems immediately when I saw what they had done," said Barrett.
Three members of the Fire and Police Commission are nearing, or have completed, their five-year term. Barrett can replace them this summer. CBS 58 reached out to all three but did not hear back.
"I was not optimistic based on our meeting [Monday] that there is going to be a quick resolution to this matter," said Morales' attorney, Frank Gimbel.
He told CBS 58 Monday negotiations with the city will continue. He said the city needs to honor Morales' contract, but Barrett said the city needs to press on with its police chief selection process.
"The chief selection process is going to continue, obviously that's become more complicated now. Acting Chief Norman, I have tremendous confidence in Chief Norman," said Barrett.
Barrett said he supports the city attorney's view that the judge only restored Morales' rank, not his job.
Barrett supports a city inspector general investigation into the Fire and Police Commission's actions surrounding the Morales demotion.
He said the public should be confident in the Milwaukee Police Department's current acting leadership.