Officer fired after arrest of Sterling Brown fights to get job back
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Sterling Brown arrest
MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee police officer fired after the arrest of Sterling Brown has made a bid to get his job back.
Shortly after a Taser was used on Sterling Brown during his January arrest after he was found double parked in a handicapped space at a Walgreens store, Milwaukee Police Officer Erik Andrade took to social media -- supposedly mocking the incident and others. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, the appeal to his firing was heard, but the argument against him was a tough one.
The appeal hearing lasted more than eight hours regarding Andrade's social media posts that made a lasting impression.
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The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners conducted a hearing on the discipline that was imposed on Andrade. When Brown was arrested , Andrade created, shared and commented on social media posts that were perceived to be offensive.
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"Would you characterize it as negative or positive attention?" asked one board member.
"Negative attention," said an officer.
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Sterling Brown body camera video
From making light of his meeting with Brown, implying he hopes other players have similar experiences -- and also bragging about overtime and use of force -- Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Andrade violated core values and policy with the posts.
"He was going to get disciplined, but he brought discredit to the department." Morales said.
A longtime friend of Andrade defended the former officer's character.
"Would you consider him a racist?" asked a board member.
"Not at all," answered the friend.
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Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales
Morales said he does not believe Andrade is a bad person. However, his credibility will now be in question -- which in turn affects his ability to do his job.
"To be able to testify -- we come across several types of investigations on a daily basis -- and a person who loses the ability to testify in court... I cannot risk having a high-profile case where that person is a key witness and person to testify in court and ruin that case," Morales said.
Tuesday's hearing was just the first phase of this appeals process. The board will go into a closed session and reconvene most likely on Wednesday to announce its decision. If further testimony is needed, that will happen.