Members of the union representing Milwaukee Police officers overwhelming supported a no confidence vote in Police Chief Edward Flynn. The Milwaukee Police Association announced Friday that 99-percent of its members voted against Flynn.
The vote comes after Flynn fired Officer Christopher Manney earlier this month for not following proper department procedure when he confronted a man in a downtown Milwaukee park on April 30 of this year. The incident resulted in 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton being shot by the officer 14 times. Manney has appealed the firing.
The decision to fire Manney came after months of pressure on the department and a series of racial protests around the city. Hamilton, who was black, was mentally ill and had been sleeping in the park.
Union officials did not say how many of their members voted, only indicating that a majority participated.
Following the announcement of the vote results, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett voiced continued support for Flynn and accused the union of just trying to “stoke a political fire.”