City hires independent investigator to review dispute involving Milwaukee alders

Milwaukee’s Department of Employee Relations hired an outside investigator to review a February verbal altercation between two city council members. 

Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa filed a formal complaint against Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. following an incident on Feb. 11 at City Hall. The confrontation happened prior to a news conference on possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the city. 

Zamarripa told media outlets at the time that she was confronted by Chambers in her office when he swore at her and used his imposing size to intimate her. She said she felt trapped and unsafe. 

The two alders have offices right next to each other in a very confined space. Many people were listening to the altercation. 

City Hall sources told the Milwaukee Courier that both council members swore at each other after a heated argument on immigration policy. The south side council member allegedly told the north side alderman to “get the f— out my office,” to which Chambers replied, “f— you and f—- your office.”

Last month, Zamarripa withdrew her complaint filed with the city’s Ethics Board, but she didn’t withdraw her complaint filed with DER. Sources told the Courier that Zamarripa’s claims to the Ethics Board would have been dismissed. 

The alderwoman said in a statement to the Courier that she asked the chairperson of the Ethics Board to hold off on hearing the complaint while the investigation is ongoing. She said the chair denied her request to hold until the investigation is complete.

“They (ethics board) essentially told me to withdraw the complaint and resubmit it later, if I so choose, as they would not hold it,” Zamarripa said in an email. “I wrote a letter to the ethics board and asked that it be made a part of the record.”

Zamarippa announced last year that she is seeking the position of Secretary of State.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s spokesman, Jeff Fleming, said the mayor’s office would not weigh in on the incident to maintain independence. “We are not in any way involved in the incident and have no information to share,” he said. 

Shortly after the incident, Common Council President Jose Perez announced that Zamarripa and Chambers would be removed from committees where they were both members of.

Chambers said in a statement to the Courier that he remains focused on legislating for his district and didn’t want to comment on an ongoing investigation. Chambers’ district includes Midtown Shopping Center, which is currently undergoing a lot of changes and development. 

“I continue to fight and legislate for the residents of the Second District,” he said. “I take responsibility for having a heated discussion, but it was a mischaracterization. I will continue to cooperate with the investigation and will accept any decision that is made. But I am moving forward as the representative of the Second District.” 

Drake Bentley can be reached at [email protected].