Officer Mattioli faces FPC charges in chokehold death
The Milwaukee police officer already charged with reckless homicide in the off-duty chokehold death of a friend, now faces an internal disciplinary trial as well — not the immediate termination the mayor and others have been calling for.
The city’s Fire and Police Commission announced Friday it had initiated a disciplinary process against Michael Mattioli after “an independent, unbiased and thorough investigation, a process that could result in his termination from MPD.”
Mattioli, 32, put his friend Joel Acevedo in a chokehold during a fight they were having at Mattioli’s house after a party there in April. Acevedo, 25, lost consciousness and died about a week later from his injuries.
Mattioli, a 13-year veteran of the department, has been on paid suspension since the incident and was charged in May with first-degree reckless homicide. He has been free on $50,000 bail. His attorneys recently sought to adjourn a preliminary hearing set for Monday.
Even before Mattioli was charged, Common Council members wanted more information from police about what happened.
Mayor Tom Barrett called for either Chief Alfonso Morales or the FPC to fire Mattioli. Morales said his hands were tied after the FPC took over the internal investigation.
During a month of protests over the killing of George Floyd May 25 by Minneapolis police, many marchers in Milwaukee have called for Mattioli to be fired. Acevedo’s family and others made such demands during a demonstration in front of Mattioli’s house.
The charges announced Friday by FPC Executive Director Griselda Aldrete could lead to his termination — or lesser sanctions — but only after a trial before the commission.
Aldrete said the charges include “potential violation of Code of Conduct as it relates to Integrity, Respect and Violation of MPD SOP 450.65(B)(1)-Fire
and Police Commission Investigations.”
She said more details about the FPC’s disciplinary case will be released later.
Mattioli told investigators he put Acevedo in the hold for about 10 minutes after they were fighting, but didn’t think he was applying enough pressure to seriously injure him.
Mattioli would automatically be fired from the department when and if he is convicted of a felony in Acevedo’s death.
B’Ivory LaMarr, an attorney for Acevedo’s family, said Friday they were satisfied with the FPC investigation and that the commission kept them informed throughout.
‘”We’re thankful there is a check and balance on the police department,” he said, but that the family feels Morales could have taken disciplinary action against Mattioli much sooner, before the FPC took over the internal investigation, given the evidence.
“Mattioli admitted he had him in a chokehold for 10 minutes,” LaMarr said. “That’s longer than the officer had his knee on George Floyd.”
LaMarr said he expects the disciplinary action to be resolved before Mattioli’s criminal case.
Mattioli’s attorney in that case did not immediately return a call seeking information on how the FPC action might affect the criminal court proceedings.