MILWAUKEE — In less than a month the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission will vote on whether to renew Police Chief Alfonso Morales' contract.
Chief Morales made his case during a candid conversation with Shannon Sims that covered both the last 18 months and his plans for the future.
Sitting in the library of his alma mater, Bradley Tech High School, Morales boasts of the small successes within the department but is still honest about the challenges his department must face.
"It takes a long time to change the course of a ship," Chief Morales said.
When Morales took over the department in February of 2018, he inherited an ACLU lawsuit and the investigation of misconduct by officers in the Bucks' Sterling Brown incident.
"As I stated before taking this position, we're going to own it," recalls Morales, "But owning it - let a few months pass and everybody forgets."
The chief also saw his leadership tested as he led the department through the deaths of three officers within months of each other.
In his short time as the city's top cop, department data shows major crimes have seen a 27 percent reduction. A success he said he could not have done without full department buy-in and community partners.
"You are only as strong as your weakest link, so we need to be strong, need to build each other up and you need to be selfless and bring everyone together," said Morales.
The chief has also faced criticism for his discipline of officers found of misconduct.
"I could tell you that in my two years here I've gotten rid of over 51 individuals on the police department .... I may want to get rid of this individual who is not committed to the organization, but if I can't do it legally I'm just going to cost the city money," said Morales.
Chief Morales has served the City of Milwaukee for 27 years moving up the ranks. In December, the Fire and Police Commission will decide if Chief Morales should continue to lead the department of over 1,800 sworn officers.
His predecessor, Ed Flynn, had ten years on the job and three contracts to get it right.
"To see the success that the city wants, or other organizations or the leadership in the city want, we still have a long way to go," Morales said candidly.
The Milwaukee native is up for the challenge.
"Do I want to stay? Yes. Is it my decision? No ... If I'm here, great, I want to give the city 150 percent."
In the meantime, Chief Morales states he is working on preparing for the Democratic National Convention next July. He is also preparing to implement his training guide based off the ACLU corrective action plan for stronger community policing in 2021.
