Council members to probe fatal assault incident during party hosted by MPD officer

During Thursday’s meeting of the Public Safety and Health Committee, a communication file introduced by Alderwomen Milele A. Coggs and Nikiya Dodd will allow Common Council members to discuss and ask questions about the arrest of a 13-year Milwaukee Police Department veteran following a fight that occurred during a party at the officer’s home – a fight which allegedly led to the death of one of the party guests.

The communications file requests MPD staff to attend the meeting of the Public Safety and Health Committee at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 14 at City Hall (200 E. Wells St.) to allow discussion of the incident, including questions from Council members.

The fight left a 25-year-old man severely injured and unresponsive, and he later died at a local hospital.

Officer Michael Mattioli, 32, was arrested and jailed for first degree reckless injury and strangulation and suffocation after the fight at Mattioli’s southwest side home on Sunday, April 19.

Mattioli, who was placed on full suspension, was released on bond on Wednesday, April 22.

Alderwoman Coggs has said the public and Council members have questions about what happened and what punishment the accused officer is facing.

“We want to help answer questions that many people have about the incident, about the alleged party that was being unlawfully held, it appears, during the coronavirus pandemic with a stay home order in place, and what can be expected to happen to the officer in the future,” Alderwoman Coggs said.

Alderwoman Dodd said it’s vitally important for the Council to continue its practice of seeking as much information as possible in cases of officer-involved deaths and incidents.

“We must continue to probe instances that call into question the conduct of officers and that speak to accountability and transparency,” Alderwoman Dodd said.

“We owe it to the officers and to the community to bring the facts to light and to make sure our city is being served with the utmost in integrity and accountability,” she said.

Thursday’s Public Safety and Health Committee meeting will be televised live on the City Channel (channel 25 on Spectrum Cable and channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse in the City of Milwaukee) and via streaming video on the city website at city.milwaukee.gov/Channel25.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.