Ousted Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales will be reinstated in 45 days unless his attorneys and the city can reach a settlement, a judge ruled last week.
The ruling from Milwaukee County Judge Christopher Foley comes weeks after Morales' legal team asked the judge to force the city to reinstate him.
"If you can't get it settled within the 45 days, then my order goes into effect," Foley said at the conclusion of a half-hour hearing. "Put him back in office, make him the chief and away we go," the Journal-Sentinel reports.
In legal filings, Morales' attorneys accused the city of dragging its feet during settlement negotiations and failing to abide by Foley's December decision to reverse the city Fire and Police Commission's ousting of Morales.
Foley rejected arguments by attorney Nate Cade, who is representing the city and commission in the case, that Morales' retirement following his demotion to captain prevented his reinstatement as chief.
A settlement with Morales could cost city taxpayers a significant sum.
Morales told WTMJ Radio on Tuesday he is "ready to come back to work" and said he even called the city this morning to get access to his old email account. But Morales seemed unsure if the city will reinstate him to police chief.
