Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission appointees answer community questions ahead of Common Council approval

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58)-- The Milwaukee Common Council will decide whether or not to confirm Mayor Tom Barrett's appointees for the city's Fire and Police Commission in less than two weeks. 

Today, the appointees answered the community's questions about what they would bring to the table if confirmed.

LaNelle Ramey is focused on what he calls a "disconnect" between the Milwaukee Police Department and the community.

"My goal and my hope is to be a bridge, and to really realign a commitment to our community, and to make sure our community feels that they have a voice, that they're being heard and that they can see action and accountability," Ramey said.

Joan Kessler plans to use her past professional experience to carry out her vision for the commission.

"That the police department will give at least the impression that it sees itself as the servants of the people, not the enforcers of things," Kessler said.

Ed Fallone wants a fair and equal system that supports everyone.

"My main goal is to make sure that the Fire and Police Commission maintains its status as an independent and powerful civilian oversight body," Fallone said.

Each appointee said wrapping up the police chief situation is a priority, if confirmed.

"We need to get some movement, some closure," Ramey said. "So, our city can move forward, whatever that looks like."

A decision on whether or not to reinstate former chief Alfonso Morales will happen on July 3, before these appointees are confirmed. They will, however, walk into resolutions of the past year.

"The Fire and Police Commission clearly has had some serious problems over the last year or so, and if there's something that new thoughts and new approaches can do to fix it, I'm willing to give it a try," Kessler said.

One question proposed the idea of two police chiefs, one for each side of the city. All appointees quickly turned down that idea.

"You have multiple people, you start to lose accountability," Fallone said. "Everybody points fingers at each other."

The Milwaukee Common Council is expected to vote on the appointees on July 7.