The Milwaukee Common Council meeting on July 31, 2026. Photograph by Alexandria Staubach.
By Alexandria Staubach
Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission candidate Jordan Morales failed to obtain enough votes for confirmation at a Milwaukee Common Council meeting this morning after some alders shared concerns about his seeming complacency with the status quo.
The confirmation failed in a 6-6 tie with three alders abstaining.
The surprising vote comes after Morales was recommended by the Common Council’s Public Safety Committee last week. Morales, who has been an advocate around the city’s reckless driving problem, had hoped to focus on what he called “quality of life” issues if appointed to the FPC.
Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic voiced the strongest opposition at today’s meeting, saying that “in this moment” the FPC has “incredibly important work that it must provide.”
Dimitrijevic said that with a state legislature “meddling in local affairs” and concern that MPD is the largest and fastest growing item in the City’s budget, she was looking at nominees through a “different lens.”
“I am looking for extra oversight, extra independence and diversity of thought,” she said before casting her “no” vote. The city needs “an FPC that is not OK with the status quo, that is going to demand answers.”
Alderman Alex Brower said that the city needed FPC commissioners who will advocate for an accountable police department. He added, “I don’t think we’re there yet,” and “I just don’t agree with the applicant enough.”
Common Council President José Pérez said he shared Dimitrijevic’s and Brower’s concerns.
Dimitrijevic, Brower, Pérez, Robert Bauman, Lamont Westmoreland, and DiAndre Jackson voted against confirmation.
Andrea Pratt, Sharlen Moore, Larresa Taylor, Peter Burgelis, Scott Spiker, and Russell Stamper voted in favor.
Mark Chambers Jr., JoCasta Zamarripa, and Milele Coggs abstained from the vote.
Though it would not have changed the outcome, Zamarripa unsuccessfully asked later in the hearing for unanimous consent to change from abstention to “no.” Nothing good comes from abstention,” she said.
Call response times and proactive policing would have been a priority for Morales, who told the Public Safety Committee last week that he felt most violent crime concerns “very few Milwaukeeans.” Also, his neighbors on the lower Eastside are “not talking about stop and frisk that much,” he said.
At a time when police pursuits remain heavy on the Common Council’s mind, Morales told the committee last week that officers should be given wider latitude in chases. He said he would like to see MPD explore the use of more aggressive tactics like the PIT maneuver to stop fleeing suspects.
A PIT maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique or Pursuit Intervention Technique) is a tactical driving method used by law enforcement to force a fleeing vehicle to abruptly turn 180 degrees, causing it to spin out, stall, and come to a stop.
“It would be extremely demoralizing for me as a city resident to see someone commit a crime or do something and all they have to do to get away from that crime is flee from the police and them not being able to pursue,” said Morales at last week’s committee hearing.
Morales said he viewed such tactics as a “force multiplier” but would ask himself, “is this the right time and are the people ready?” before moving for that style of intervention in policing.
Morales did not speak at today’s Common Council meeting. But some of his prior comments seem out of step with Dimitrijevic’s budgetary concerns.
When questioned previously on how he would attack the need to hire more police under Act 12, Morales said the FPC would need more funding for recruitment, citing a national shortage of people interested in policing as a profession.
Morales said the problem is especially pronounced in “municipalities like Milwaukee, which are tightly strapped for cash with regard to officer salaries.”
In November, the Common Council approved tens of millions in additional spending to increase officer salaries.
Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission candidate Jordan Morales failed to obtain enough votes for confirmation at a Milwaukee Common Council meeting this morning after some alders shared concerns about his seeming complacency with the status quo.
The confirmation failed in a 6-6 tie with three alders abstaining.
The surprising vote comes after Morales was recommended by the Common Council’s Public Safety Committee last week. Morales, who has been an advocate around the city’s reckless driving problem, had hoped to focus on what he called “quality of life” issues if appointed to the FPC.
Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic voiced the strongest opposition at today’s meeting, saying that “in this moment” the FPC has “incredibly important work that it must provide.”
Dimitrijevic said that with a state legislature “meddling in local affairs” and concern that MPD is the largest and fastest growing item in the City’s budget, she was looking at nominees through a “different lens.”
“I am looking for extra oversight, extra independence and diversity of thought,” she said before casting her “no” vote. The city needs “an FPC that is not OK with the status quo, that is going to demand answers.”
Alderman Alex Brower said that the city needed FPC commissioners who will advocate for an accountable police department. He added, “I don’t think we’re there yet,” and “I just don’t agree with the applicant enough.”
Common Council President José Pérez said he shared Dimitrijevic’s and Brower’s concerns.
Dimitrijevic, Brower, Pérez, Robert Bauman, Lamont Westmoreland, and DiAndre Jackson voted against confirmation.
Andrea Pratt, Sharlen Moore, Larresa Taylor, Peter Burgelis, Scott Spiker, and Russell Stamper voted in favor.
Mark Chambers Jr., JoCasta Zamarripa, and Milele Coggs abstained from the vote.
Though it would not have changed the outcome, Zamarripa unsuccessfully asked later in the hearing for unanimous consent to change from abstention to “no.” Nothing good comes from abstention,” she said.
Call response times and proactive policing would have been a priority for Morales, who told the Public Safety Committee last week that he felt most violent crime concerns “very few Milwaukeeans.” Also, his neighbors on the lower Eastside are “not talking about stop and frisk that much,” he said.
At a time when police pursuits remain heavy on the Common Council’s mind, Morales told the committee last week that officers should be given wider latitude in chases. He said he would like to see MPD explore the use of more aggressive tactics like the PIT maneuver to stop fleeing suspects.
A PIT maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique or Pursuit Intervention Technique) is a tactical driving method used by law enforcement to force a fleeing vehicle to abruptly turn 180 degrees, causing it to spin out, stall, and come to a stop.
“It would be extremely demoralizing for me as a city resident to see someone commit a crime or do something and all they have to do to get away from that crime is flee from the police and them not being able to pursue,” said Morales at last week’s committee hearing.
Morales said he viewed such tactics as a “force multiplier” but would ask himself, “is this the right time and are the people ready?” before moving for that style of intervention in policing.
Morales did not speak at today’s Common Council meeting. But some of his prior comments seem out of step with Dimitrijevic’s budgetary concerns.
When questioned previously on how he would attack the need to hire more police under Act 12, Morales said the FPC would need more funding for recruitment, citing a national shortage of people interested in policing as a profession.
Morales said the problem is especially pronounced in “municipalities like Milwaukee, which are tightly strapped for cash with regard to officer salaries.”
In November, the Common Council approved tens of millions in additional spending to increase officer salaries.