Milwaukee FPC names next acting police chief
Milwaukee FPC names next acting police chief
Jeffrey Norman, who has been with MPD since 1996, will take over for retiring Acting Chief Michael Brunson.
MILWAUKEE - It remains unknown who will serve as the next permanent Milwaukee police chief, but the city s Fire and Police Commission (FPC) did approve the department s next interim leader on Thursday night, Dec. 17 current Assistant Chief Jeffrey Norman.
Acting Chief Michael Brunson, a 25-year veteran of the force, will retire on Tuesday.
Commissioners thanked Brunson for his service and welcomed his short-term successor on Thursday all the while remaining gridlocked on their vote for the next permanent chief.
After two weeks of trying and failing to select a permanent chief, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission named Jeffrey Norman as its next acting chief of police Thursday.
Norman, an assistant chief, will take over from Michael Brunson Sr. in the temporary role Dec. 23 following Brunson s retirement. Brunson recommended the selection of Norman, who was briefly considered for the permanent role two months ago.
Norman, a 24-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department and native of the city, will serve as the top cop while the commission navigates a tied vote for his permanent successor. I am honored to serve in this role, Norman said during Thursday s online meeting.
Not entirely, but it’s fallen well short of its goals. By Bruce Murphy - Dec 16th, 2020 09:56 am //end headline wrapper ?>DEFUND THE POLICE mural. Photos by Jeramey Jannene.
Last summer Mayor
Tom Barrett was alarmed by a movement to slash that the city’s budget for police. Community activists in town were pushing for a 25% cut in the budget, potentially cutting the force by more than 400 officers, which the mayor saw as a disaster for Milwaukee. He began contacting council members individually, sources told Urban Milwaukee, and found that some supported the idea. He warned Ald.
Mark Borkowski, the council’s most fervent supporter of the the police, that they could face a push for deep cuts.
Seeking changes to state law to give city s elected officials control. By Jeramey Jannene - Dec 15th, 2020 04:11 pm //end headline wrapper ?>Milwaukee City Hall. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Milwaukee’s 135-year-old Fire & Police Commission (FPC), often billed as the most powerful independent public safety oversight body in the country, will lose some of its power if the Common Council gets its way.
The council passed three separate resolutions Tuesday calling on the city’s lobbying team to seek changes to state law governing the hiring and firing of the police and fire chiefs and the structure of the commission.
“I think it’s a reform that’s frankly long overdue,” said leading sponsor Alderman