MILWAUKEE — A judge says he will reinstate ousted Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales to his post in under 50 days unless Morales' attorneys and the city settle their legal fight over his job.
Milwaukee County Judge Christopher Foley issued the ruling Wednesday. The city's police commission demoted Morales to captain in August following turmoil over racial justice protests and complaints of distrust within the Milwaukee Police Department.
The former chief’s attorney, Franklyn Gimbel, has said Morales’ relationship with the commission had been deteriorating since he refused the chairman’s demand to fire an officer involved in the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown in January 2018.
More recently, the commission criticized Morales for authorizing tear gas to disperse protesters. The commission also raised questions over how the department has policed Black communities.
"At the end of the hearing, [...] Foley fully reiterated what he had found in December, that is that the actions of the Fire Police Commission back in August of 2020, were illegal, violated the due process rights of the chief as well as other rights,” Morales' attorney Ray Dall'Osto said.
Morales chose to retire and sued for damages. Foley reversed the commission's decision in December. Morales' attorneys have accused the city of failing to abide by the ruling or propose a financial settlement.
The 45 days proposed on Wednesday gives both sides time to discuss the proper way to either get him back to his position or reach a settlement. On Wednesday, Morales' legal team said he has been ready, willing and available to return to his position as chief.
City attorneys have argued that Morales’ retirement following his demotion prevented his reinstatement as chief. If he does not return to work, it's not clear what the terms of his settlement will be.
Morales became Milwaukee's police chief back in February 2018 after first joining the police department in 1993.