MKE Common Council On New Executive Director for the Fire and Police Commission

I have been working on an article about the hot mess that is the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission for two months now but every time I get into it some new shit happens. Tonight there will be a showdown around the police chief…but in the meantime the Common Council is FINALLY riled up.

Twelve members of the Common Council TODAY (Thursday, August 6) sent a letter (attached) to Mayor Tom Barrett, urging that he move swiftly in nominating a new Executive Director of the Fire and Police Commission.

Twelve members of the Common Council TODAY (Thursday, August 6) sent a letter to Mayor Tom Barrett, urging that he move swiftly in nominating a new Executive Director of the Fire and Police Commission.

The letter states, in part: “The residents of our city, state and country are continuing to call for police reform in the wake of Joel Acevedo and George Floyd’s murders. The inequitable policing practices that exist disproportionately impact communities of color, an idea we know is not lost on you. While the community and local leaders continue to discuss various means of police reform, one crucial part of the puzzle is having steady leadership atop the Fire and Police Commission which is charged with oversight of our city’s protective services. As such, we are renewing our call for you to nominate a new Executive Director of the Fire and Police Commission, and to do so swiftly.”

In part, the letter continues: “It has been nearly a month since current Executive Director Griselda Aldrete withdrew from the reappointment process, and that we have yet to hear who her successor will be is disappointing, particularly given the urgency and interest around the matter.

Regardless of who you nominate to serve in this post, the vetting process must be thorough and transparent. The Council’s current August recess would be an ideal time to meet with the nominee, host community meetings and gather feedback from the public with the goal of confirmation in early September. Given the current hurdles that exist because of COVID-19, a proper community engagement process will take more time and planning than normal, and we fear that if a nomination is delayed much longer time will not be on our side moving forward.”

In addition to Alderwoman Lewis, the letter is signed by Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, and Alderman Khalif J. Rainey.

This press release arrived in my email just two hours ago.

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3 thoughts on “MKE Common Council On New Executive Director for the Fire and Police Commission

  1. Twelve of fifteen– so the following three are still in seclusion in their bunker:

    Johnson
    Bauman
    Spiker

    1. Spiker never seems to put himself out there…is he actually working as an alder?

  2. Glad Tom Barrett was able to get in his week-long vacation when all this was going down.

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