Within minutes of the announcement that the Fire and Police Commission unanimously voted to demote Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales, people began weighing in.
“I thought he was doing a fine job,” said James Rubenstein. “I just don’t like that they forced him out.”
“It’s absolutely necessary,” said Liz Brown. “Milwaukee needs change, and it has to start at the top.”
What many people on both sides of the decision can agree on is that Milwaukee - and our country as a whole - have work to do.
“There needs to be some very, very serious examination of policing, and the excess of it,” said Milwaukee-native, Paul Cebar. “There are people protesting in most of the major cities in our country right now to shed light on the militarization of police forces, and the unjust killings that are happening.”
“We need to focus on the importance of having people in the police department that want to police people in our community the right way,” said Maria Hamilton, whose son Dontre was killed by a Milwaukee Police Officer in 2014.
“A lot more work has yet to be done,” Hamilton said. “We’ve been fighting since Dontre died to reform the Milwaukee Police Department.”
Alfonso Morales, a native of Milwaukee, became police chief in February of 2018. As of Thursday night, he is no longer chief, but rather, demoted to captain. Michael Brunson is now the acting chief.
