By Associated Press - Thursday, December 24, 2020

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Milwaukee Common Council members are blasting ousted Police Chief Alfonso Morales’ attorney for making what they consider racist remarks on a radio show.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Franklyn Gimbel told WTMJ-AM on Monday that former Milwaukee Police Chief Harold Brier was “an old-fashioned law and order guy if ever there was one.” The Common Council condemned Briar in 1984 for making racist remarks.

Gimbel also said that the city’s police commission has faltered because commissioners are appointed according to zip codes instead of their IQs.

Eleven council members issued a statement calling Gimbel’s remarks about Brier “disturbing” and his comments about the commission “inaccurate and racist.”

Gimbel said in response that he’s always been on the side of side of racial justice and his comment about Brier wasn’t a compliment.

He also said that his remarks about the commission were poorly articulated. People of color have experience relevant to police oversight but current commissioners lack that experience, he explained.

Gimbel made the comments days after a judge reversed the commission’s decision to demote Morales. The commission made the move amid criticism of the way Morales handled multiple incidents involving Black people, including the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown. Gimbel is representing Morales in negotiations with the city over Morales’ future.

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