Milwaukee commission finds cause in sanitation worker appeal, reduces discharge to 15-day suspension

The Board of City Service Commissioners on Nov. 4 found the Department of Public Works had cause to discipline former equipment operator Demontae Jordan, but the board voted to replace the department’s discharge with a 15-day suspension.

The commission heard multi-hour testimony and reviewed emails and other exhibits after the department appealed Jordan’s discharge for insubordination related to collection-route procedures. Department witnesses described repeated coaching sessions and directives in late July and early August 2025 that Jordan follow the route numbering and said he refused. Dan Thomas, administrative services director for DPW, testified that Jordan told managers “you’re gonna have to fire me because I’m not doing this,” and later declined a last-chance agreement and a 15-day suspension offered by the department.

Jordan and several co-workers told the commission that route practice on the South Area had long allowed on-the-ground adjustments…