MILWAUKEE – The police officer who shot and killed Dontre Hamilton in Red Arrow Park earlier this year has been fired, Chief Ed Flynn announced.
In a press conference Police Chief Edward Flynn said he charged Officer Christopher Manney with a violation of their Core Value 1.00, Competence.
“Based on the totality of the circumstances, including the aggravating and mitigating factors I’ve described, I signed an order terminating Christopher Manney from his employment with the Milwaukee Police Department earlier today,” Flynn said.
“While I find errors in the judgment used by Officer Manney,” he continued, “there was no malice in his decisions.”
The Milwaukee Police Association released a statement Wednesday condemning the decision.
“The decision to terminate this officer is cowardice and certainly unfounded and unsupported by fact,” the statement reads in part.
“The use of deadly force by an officer is a difficult decision that must be made accurately and instantaneously – the MPA is confident in the officer’s training and trust the action taken was of necessity.”
Protesters have repeatedly called for the officer to be charged, though a decision on that front has not yet been reached.
