Milwaukee police chief objects to promotion of sergeant linked to ex-cop Dominique Heaggan-Brown
The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission delayed acting Thursday on whether to promote a sergeant linked to ex-cop Dominique Heaggan-Brown over the objection of Police Chief Alfonso Morales.
The promotion of Sgt. Joseph Hall to the rank of lieutenant remains on hold pending three internal investigations, according to a recently released letter from Morales to the commission.
"The investigations have concluded; however, I firmly believe that the highest standards required for law enforcement personnel, particularly those applicable to promoted positions, and the public interest require" Hall not be promoted, Morales wrote.
Morales did not go into detail in his letter.
At an earlier commission meeting, the Milwaukee Police Supervisors' Organization questioned why Morales was objecting, noting Hall's only discipline was two official reprimands dating back a decade.
"We can only conclude that there's some other unexplained factors that have led to this objection," said Nick Kerhin, who serves on the union's board of directors.
Kerhin said Hall's disciplinary file was provided to the union and it included allegations that were never proven.
"Allegations which are not sustained are exactly that, and denying a promotion because of them would be unfair to Sgt. Hall or any other candidate because unfounded complaints or rumors could cripple people's careers," Kerhin said.
In 2017, former Chief Edward Flynn said Hall was under internal investigation after sexual assault allegations surfaced against Dominique Heaggan-Brown, the officer who shot and killed Sylville Smith in Sherman Park.
The two cases were not related. Heaggan-Brown was fired after he was charged with several sex crimes. He was convicted in that case and received a three-year sentence.
Heaggan-Brown was acquitted of homicide in Smith's shooting.
Court records in the sexual assault case show Heaggan-Brown texted Hall after he dropped a man off at a hospital who accused Heaggan-Brown of rape.
"Need your help big time … (expletive) up big time … but need to handle this the most secret and right way possible," according to the complaint.
Heaggan-Brown told Hall the sex was consensual, "but admitted that (the alleged victim) was drunk and had 'medical issues,' " it said.
In January 2017, Flynn told WISN-TV (Channel 12) that Hall shared the information with the chain-of-command, but he was not sure of the time frame.
Morales has not spoken publicly about his objection and declined through a spokeswoman to discuss the issue, instead advising a reporter to file an open records request. Requests with the Milwaukee Police Department and the Fire and Police Commission are pending.
At the commission's April 5 meeting, Kerhin said Morales may have "valid reasons to be wary" of the promotion, but said Hall meets, and in some cases exceeds, standards set by the Fire and Police Commission.
If Hall is promoted, he will be on probation for a year. Morales can ensure he is properly trained and supervised and if he does poorly, he can return to the rank of sergeant, Kerhin said.
"Neither the MPSO nor the FPC can guarantee that any particular candidate will be successful upon promotion," he said.