CITY OF MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission Chair, Nelson Soler, said during a Thursday meeting that the commission will be suspending their search for a new police chief.
Soler said the search is suspended until the FPC has more information from the city's attorney and until former chief Alfonso Morales' legal situation is settled.
This comes after the FPC for the second time tied in a vote to choose the city's next police chief Dec. 10. The six commissioners equally divided their votes between the top two candidates, Malik Aziz and Hoyt Mahaley. The commissioners voted for the same candidates they voted for during a meeting to choose a chief last Thursday.
Dallas Police Major Aziz received support from Commissioner Everett Cocroft, Chairman Nelson Soler and Vice-Chairman Angela McKenzie. Commissioners Fred Crouther, Steven DeVougas and Ann Wilson sided with Mahaley, a Milwaukee native and current FBI special agent.
The vote comes after former Police Chief Alfonso Morales was demoted to captain by the FPC, over ongoing tensions between the body and the former chief, as well as allegations against Morales that he lied to the commission.
Morales' lawyer has since called for Morales to be reinstated to his position as chief, arguing the chief was not given due process.
Attorneys for the City of Milwaukee concluded on Nov. 16 that Morales did not receive due process in his demotion, and urged the Milwaukee County Court hearing Morales' petition to send the case back to the FPC for a full hearing.
