Shocking Allegations Vs. Deputy, Ex-Cop Reveal Bad Hires, Preferential Treatment

Law enforcement agencies and civilian leaders in Milwaukee County have got to enforce better sworn officer hiring, training and disciplinary procedures or there will be more stories about preventable tragedies like these:

*  The ex-West Allis cop accused of dumping two suitcases containing women's bodies got kid-gloves treatment after women had previously complained he'd abused them:

The former West Allis police officer who police say killed two women and hid their bodies in suitcases was accused of stalking and harassment by at least half a dozen women before he was forced to resign in August 2001, according to personnel records released Wednesday. 

Steven Zelich, who was hired in 1989, left the department after internal investigators uncovered a pattern of troubling incidents, including one in which a woman ran, crying, from his apartment in her underwear... 

The internal investigator told Zelich that had he not been a police officer, he would have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, according to the personnel records... 

West Allis police did not refer Zelich to the district attorney's office for possible criminal charges. He received a state license as a private security guard in 2007.

*  Milwaukee County, along with Sheriff's Department personnel, are being sued in a separate case involving allegations of misconduct: 

Lawyers filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of a Franklin woman who was severely injured and falsely accused of drunken driving after an on-duty Milwaukee County sheriff's deputy crashed into her and lied about causing the accident.

The federal lawsuit contends that Deputy Joseph Quiles conspired with fellow deputies and supervisors to cover up his actions and shift the blame to the woman, Tanya Weyker.. 

Before the 2013 crash, Quiles had been investigated for off-duty road rage and was suspended for watching a movie in his squad car instead of monitoring traffic at a fatal accident scene, records show.

Seven years ago, Clarke sought to fire Quiles for falsifying records — something Quiles had previously been ordered not to do.

As a result of injuries suffered in the 2013 crash, Quiles has filed for duty disability retirement, which would allow him to be paid a portion of his salary, tax-free, for life. His disability claim is still undergoing medical review, a spokesman for the county executive said Tuesday.

Several disciplinary decisions by the County aimed at the Deputy look pretty ineffective, too.