MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced Friday that Adam Procell will resign as director of Milwaukee's Office of Community Wellness and Safety after learning that his previous murder conviction legally disqualifies him from serving as a department director.
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Johnson made the announcement during a news conference, explaining that Procell cannot hold the position due to his past conviction, for which he served 25 years in prison.
Watch: Adam Procell to resign as director of Office of Community Wellness and Safety:
Since his release in 2018, Procell has become an advocate for violence prevention, leading reentry programs and helping to shape Wisconsin law to create hope for the formerly incarcerated.
During Friday's news conference, Johnson said the council had decided in November to move the Office of Community Wellness and Safety out of the Department of Administration and establish it as its own department — a decision Johnson said he vetoed but was overridden.
Johnson commended Procell's leadership during the conference, stating that serious crime is down 20% under his tenure compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee GOP Chairman Hilario Deleon said in a statement to TMJ4 that he was “saddened and disappointed” to hear about Procell’s resignation.
"After getting to know Adam personally through community events and through sit-down conversations following his appointment, I had confidence in his leadership and his intentions," Deleon's statement reads in-part.
"Adam was one of the few individuals within city government who was genuinely trying to serve as a bridge between the Milwaukee Police Department and the communities most affected by violence."
Full statement from the Milwaukee GOP:
Karin Tyler will lead the department after Procell leaves, though it's unclear if that appointment is temporary.
This web article was updated to include a statement from the chairman of the Milwaukee GOP about Procell's resignation.
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