Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission reappoints Chief Alfonso Morales for another term
Updated: 5:51 a.m. on December 19, 2019
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales will be sworn in for another term Thursday morning at 8 a.m. at City Hall.
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Updated: 10:18 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2019
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Fire and Police Commission voted to reappoint Chief Alfonso Morales for another term on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The FPC voted 4-2 to reappoint Morales, with one vote abstained.
Morales' contract expires Jan. 7.
#BREAKING The MKE FPC voted yes to reappointing Chief Alfonso Morales for another term @CBS58pic.twitter.com/yNzghswhh3
— Cearron Bagenda (@CearronBagenda) December 19, 2019
The meeting started at 8:30 p.m. and included more than an hour of public comment.
A secret service member praised Chief Morales for his willingness to cooperate with the needs of the secret service as they plan for the upcoming DNC and other missions.
Other community members say Chief Morales has been a great leader in the policing community.
During public comment, a number of people asked the FPC to take their time and listen to community members first before making their decision to reappoint Morales.
Others said the chief should not be reappointed due to concerns regarding how some people in the black community are being treated.
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Updated: 5:43 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2019
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Fire and Police Commission was set to vote on his new deal at a special meeting Wednesday night, but now a large group of city officials are urging them to delay their vote.
A letter sent around 4 p.m. signed by nine of Milwaukee's 15 aldermen asks for a delay.
That letter says, in part:
"We urge you to reconsider and postpone the reappointment of Chief Morales until a far better process can be created and shared with the community. In the interest of bringing closure to this matter, it seems reasonable that your decision could be made within the next 30 days."
Some of the aldermen in the letter had been among the most vocal of the critics.
Tonight is the last regularly scheduled meeting night the commission has before that expiration date.
They are expected to hold an executive session in just a few minutes, followed by a public session at 6:15, followed by the special meeting involving Morales' contract at 8:30 p.m.
You can read the full letter below:
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Posted: 3:54 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2019
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The future of Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales' contract will be determined by the Fire and Police Commission.
FPC Commissioner Nelson Soler scheduled a special meeting Wednesday night, Dec. 18 to discuss whether they will re-appoint Chief Morales. It's the last regularly scheduled FPC meeting before Chief Morales' contract ends on Jan. 7.
Soler said in a statement:
"I have called a special meeting of the FPC to maintain its integrity to a published process set by the chairman. I have been a hardliner in demanding transparency from MPD, FPC director and the chair and that is typically not well received."
The uncertainty of what would happen with Chief Morales' contract has received some criticism, including from the Milwaukee Police Association.
"For the community to be awaiting a decision on their police chief and this fire and police commission to delay and delay and delay after saying that they would have a vote by the end of year and not do it. It's their elective duty and it's incompetence," said Milwaukee Police Association President Shawn Lauda.
Chief Morales has said he wants to stay on as chief and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett expressed his support as well.
CBS 58 will be there for all of the meetings. Stick with us on-air and online for updates.