Milwaukee commission denies motion to dismiss in Sergeant Burch time-card case

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission on Friday denied a defense motion to dismiss charges accusing Sergeant Burch of failing to be forthright in reporting his time, keeping the disciplinary hearing alive.

The commission’s decision came after attorneys argued over whether the charged provision — cited as 3.1(o) in the department’s code of conduct — actually applies to time-card entries and whether an alternative charge, 3.11, would have been more appropriate. The defense asked the commission to dismiss the 3.1(o) charge as a matter of law; the commission declined. The city rested its Phase 1 case after the ruling and called additional witnesses.

Why this matters: The case centers on whether Burch marked roll-call or duty time when he was not physically present and whether supervisors or clerks routinely adjusted entries in the department’s timekeeping system. The outcome may affect internal discipline for Burch and touches broader practices in the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) that witnesses described as informal or inconsistent.

Commissioners heard testimony from internal affairs and multiple police supervisors about how CIB hours and roll call worked in…