Milwaukee Police officer traveling to Georgia training retires before facing discipline

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A Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) officer who attended training in Georgia at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) retired from duty, prior to facing disciplinary action for falsifying a document, a Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson told the Wisconsin Law Journal on April 10, 2024.

Two other Milwaukee Police Department employees were disciplined for the same reason, but then later had the discipline reduced or revoked by the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, Milwaukee Police officials tell the Wisconsin Law Journal.

In 2022, TMJ4 reported three members of the MPD were under investigation for allegedly creating and using false COVID-19 vaccination records to the attend out-of-state training in Georgia.

On April 10, 2024, MPD told the Wisconsin Law Journal the Milwaukee Police officers were approved for and attended training in Georgia after filling in false information on a form.

MPD employee 1:

“This is the member’s first violation of behavior that could bring discredit to the department,” officials said, noting a 30-day suspension without pay.

*With respect to the 30-day suspension for behavior that could bring discredit to the department that the members received, a stipulation was reached in which both members would receive a 5-day suspension without pay (not 30).

MPD employee 2:

MPD officials also noted a Milwaukee Police detective was approved and attended training out of state after filling in false information on a form.

“This (also) is the member’s first violation of behavior that could bring discredit to the department,” that MPD employee also received a thirty-day suspension without pay and demotion from detective to police officer.  (That was reduced to five days).

MPD employee 3:  

Officer retired before facing discipline.

Appeals

MPD officials noted two department members filed appeals with the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission regarding the discipline imposed.

According to police, in January 2023, the FPC held a hearing in which the commission dismissed the 30-day suspension for one officer.

The commission further ruled the demoted Milwaukee Police Department detective could get his rank as detective back.

“The demotion to police officer was dismissed for failing to be forthright and candid. Member’s previous rank of detective was subsequently restored,” MPD officials said.

According to a report, FLETEC’s Georgia training facility provides law enforcement training for 91 federal agencies, several state, local, tribal agencies, and oversees or assists with training at several International Law Enforcement Academies.

In order to protect the safety of all of the other law enforcement officers, the federal government required visitors to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.