Commission hearing continues in appeal over city attorney office IT worker’s termination; testimony centers on CJIS clearance

The City Service Commission in Milwaukee resumed a continuation of an appeal hearing on April 8 that concerns the December 2024 separation of an IT staff member in the Office of the City Attorney. City Attorney Evan Goike told the commission that the office placed the employee on administrative leave in November after a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) audit raised compliance questions, and that the employee was discharged on Dec. 11 following a pre-discharge meeting.

The hearing’s testimony centered on whether the employee’s lack of CJIS clearance prevented him from performing essential IT duties in the Ordinance Enforcement Division, which operates in the Police Administration Building and provides access to CJIS-governed databases. Deputy City Attorney Mary Channing testified that, after reviewing the relevant CJIS provisions and the job description for the IT position, she concluded the employee could not fulfill certain essential functions without access. Channing told the commission she reviewed portions of the CJIS policy and highlighted sections she considered applicable. "I did not feel that he…