MILWAUKEE — The City Attorney's Office is under scrutiny on multiple fronts following investigations from the city and state level, calling for felony charges and the removal of Tearman Spencer and one of his deputy city attorneys.
After nearly a year and a half investigation, the Milwaukee Inspector General (IG), Ronda Kohlheim, published a report on Wednesday accusing a deputy city attorney of collecting his city salary while working for his private law firm.
Odalo Ohiku was appointed to the City Attorney's Office in October 2020. Part of that obligation means he had to reassign clients at his private law firm to other attorneys, but it is unclear if he ever did so.
During his time as Deputy City Attorney, Ohiku made more than half a dozen appearances in court for his private practice during regular city work hours.
Kohlheim alleges Ohiku worked 11 days for his private firm while collecting $5766.64 from the city for his role as Deputy City Attorney. Kohlheim's report show Ohiku was in Milwaukee, Waukesha, or Winnebago County Circuit Courts as counsel for cases associated with his private practice during these times. The report also says City Attorney Spencer certified the time Ohiku worked privately as city worked time.
Spencer denies any fault in approving Ohiku's time, as it's his understanding, "...the City Attorney has no involvement with the employees reporting their time."
He also tells TMJ4 News, he will be meeting with DCA Ohiku Thursday to discuss the report, calling Ohiku "a fine Attorney that cares deeply about the City of Milwaukee."
Due to these allegations, Kohlheim is forwarding the violations to the District Attorney's Office to determine if charges need to be filed. Kohlheim suggests these violations rise to the level of charging both Ohiku and Spencer with a Class I Felony, for misconduct in public office. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office says it has received the report and is reviewing it.
Kohlheim also recommends the Milwaukee Common Council remove both Ohiku and Spencer from their positions and prevent them from working for the city again. Ald. Bob Bauman tells TMJ4 News, that's unlikely to happen.
"Given the relatively close election, there's probably no appetite to have that fight now," Bauman said. "I think the matter will be resolved by the voters."
Bauman, who is an attorney as well, was troubled at the prospect of a Deputy City Attorney working for a private law firm three years into an appointment.
"I find this entire situation ludicrous," Bauman said. "It was clear from the beginning that Deputy City Attorney's are not supposed to be conducting private law practices on a regular and sustained basis. I get changeover. You resolve cases, bring in new attorneys, farm out cases to other attorneys. That's routinely done and takes maybe a couple of months to resolve itself. But for this to go on for years, it's craziness."
The Journal Sentinel is also reporting a state investigator found probable cause that Spencer violated state labor law by forcing a female attorney out of his office after she reported that he had touched her inappropriately. If the woman and the city don't settle, her complaint could go before a state administrative law judge next April, a few weeks after the election.
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