MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Fire and Police Commission on Thursday evening, February 5th announced an appeal hearing has been set for Christopher Manney -- the former Milwaukee police officer who shot and killed 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton in downtown Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park on April 30th, 2014. This announcement came on the same day Jonathan Safran, the attorney for Hamilton's family issued a statement to FOX6 News -- describing the Hamilton's family's frustration that the appeal hearing had not yet been scheduled.
The Fire and Police Commission announced Thursday evening that Manney's appeal hearing will occur during the last week in February. An exact date has not yet been announced.
Christopher Manney shot and killed 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton on April 30th, 2014 in downtown Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park. He was terminated from the Milwaukee Police Department for his handling of Hamilton on that day. Chief Flynn says he didn't follow proper procedure, but in a memo to Chief Flynn obtained by FOX6 News, Manney says MPD contradicts itself -- on the one hand saying Hamilton was so dangerous he should have called for backup, and on the other hand, saying there was no justification to even pat Hamilton down.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office has decided Manney was justified in his use of force.
On Thursday afternoon, Safran issued a statement to FOX6 News, saying Manney filed his disciplinary appeal with the Fire and Police Commission on October 17th -- saying the Hamilton family is frustrated and upset that nearly four months later, an appeal hearing had yet to be scheduled.
That statement is as follows:
At the Fire and Police Commission meeting on Thursday, February 5th, Hamilton's family members say they expect to be let down.
"My faith is truly with God, and not people. People let you down. We've been let down by the Milwaukee Police Department. We've been let down by the Fire and Police Commission. We've been let down by the Mayor's Office. We've been let down," Hamilton's brother Nate said.
We're told Manney's appeal hearing will not occur at a Fire and Police Commission meeting. It will be a stand-alone event. Chief Flynn is expected to testify.
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