Mayor Tom Barrett blocks measure giving Milwaukee aldermen power to dismiss police, fire chiefs

Mayor Tom Barrett is blocking a plan that would give Milwaukee aldermen the power to fire the city's police and fire chiefs.

The measure, which would allow the Common Council to remove either chief on a two-thirds vote, narrowly passed Tuesday.

"We'll veto it by the end of the day," Barrett said soon after the council meeting.

Barrett warned that the proposal would make it nearly impossible for any chief to run the Milwaukee Police Department.

"We have a long history in this city of keeping the Police Department nonpoliticized," Barrett said. "To have a police chief or a fire chief have to respond to 15 different bosses would make it almost an impossible job."

By state law, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission has the authority to appoint the chiefs of both the Police and Fire Departments. The plan would require state approval to give aldermen the power to fire either chief.

Although the measure would apply to both police and fire chiefs, discussion at City Hall quickly focused on Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn.

Ald. Tony Zielinski and Ald. Mark Borkowski, two of the proposal's lead sponsors, accused Flynn of ignoring aldermen and their constituents' concerns.

"We're tired of not being listened to," Borkowski said. "We're tired of not being heard."

He added, "There are some of us who've had it with this police chief and his nonchalant attitude as far as the safety of this community."

Zielinski also accused Flynn of treating aldermen "dismissively" and only being accountable to the mayor.

"You should be carrying yourself in a professional manner and treating members of the council with respect and dignity," Zielinski said of Flynn.

Timothy Gauerke, a Police Department spokesman, declined to comment on the proposal.

Ald. Jim Bohl acknowledged communication problems between the Police Department and aldermen. But he called the current proposal "half-baked" and said it could make it hard to draw top talent when trying to recruit a new chief when the position is open.

"Before you sort of run the old chief off, you got to wonder who's going take his seat next," Bohl said. 

Ald. Milele Coggs said she shared concerns about the current chief and community- police relations, but warned against crafting legislation focused on the current person in office.

"As we all know, the legislation that we vote on has the ability to be timeless," Coggs said.

Ald. Terry Witkowski agreed, calling it "poor legislation."

Council President Ashanti Hamilton joined Alds. Coggs, Witkowski, Bohl, Michael Murphy and Cavalier Johnson in voting against the measure.

Alds. Zielinski, Borkowski, José Pérez, Khalif Rainey, Russell W. Stamper II, Nik Kovac, Chantia Lewis and Robert Bauman voted in favor of it.

Ald. Bob Donovan was excused.

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission is one of the most powerful civilian oversight boards in the country. The commissioners are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Common Council. 

When asked about criticism Flynn is facing from aldermen, Barrett said, "Respect is a two-way street."

"For anyone in life, the respect they receive is often times commensurate with the respect they give an individual," Barrett said.

Zielinski accused Barrett and Flynn of "looking out for each other."

"Of course the mayor supports the chief, because the chief supports they mayor's ineffective public safety policies," Zielinski said.