Milwaukee council rejects police oversight body nominee in surprise vote

Milwaukee’s Common Council rejected Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s nominee for the city’s Fire and Police Commission in a surprise vote on July 31. Jordan Morales was denied by members 6-6, with three abstentions, after previously advancing unanimously from a prior committee. The decision raised concerns about Morales’ ability to challenge law enforcement, particularly around Flock license plate tracking technology, which has faced scrutiny after Milwaukee Police Department members faced criminal charges tied to misuse. Morales is a longtime traffic safety advocate and had said he wanted the department to focus more on quality-of-life crimes. After the vote, he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was disappointed, saying trust must be earned, including on surveillance technology.