Ousted Milwaukee Police Chief Morales Files Lawsuit Demanding Job Back

Former Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales is asking a judge to force the city to immediately return him to his job.

Morales was removed from his post at the head of the Police Department in August and demoted to the rank of captain by the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission following months of turmoil amid racial justice protests and years of community distrust of officers. He later resigned.

Morales’ attorney, Franklyn Gimbel, filed an affidavit in Milwaukee County Circuit Court this week arguing the city is not following a December decision from Milwaukee County Judge Christopher Foley by not reinstating Morales as chief.

Foley reversed the Fire and Police Commission’s decision to demote Morales. But the judge did not give further instructions, and it remains unclear if or how Morales could actually retake leadership of the Police Department.

Since December, Gimbel said he has had meetings with city officials to discuss a date Morales could return to work or a monetary settlement for the former chief, but there has been no action taken on behalf of the city.

“The discord, distrust and uneasy stand-off that currently exists at City Hall between the City of Milwaukee, its (Fire and Police Commission) and the City Attorney’s office whether to honor Judge Foley’s Dec. 18, 2020, order is no excuse or good reason for continued delay and Respondents’ inaction and disobedience of the Court’s order,” Gimbel wrote.

Gimbel is asking the court to reinstate Morales as chief within five days and reimburse him for the difference in salary, benefits, individual retirement contributions and other sums, including all of his attorneys’ fees and costs that have been expended since Aug. 6.

In mid-April, the Milwaukee Common Council hired an outside legal firm, Cade Law Group, to handle the Morales case.

Attorney Nate Cade said Wednesday he wasn’t authorized to speak to media about the case. The city declined to comment on ongoing legal issues.