'Brown Figurine' Hung In Fire Department; Charges Coming

MILWAUKEE, WI — Several Milwaukee Fire Department officials will be disciplined after a "brown figurine" was found hanging from a ribbon in a Milwaukee fire station, the fire department said late Sunday.

Fire officials said the person who did the hanging has come forward, yet several others who knew about it did nothing to stop or put an end to it.

According to information released by the Milwaukee Fire Department on Sunday, the incident happened in February, but officials did not say which fire station it happened at. They have also yet to say why it's taken until the end of June to make the incident public.

Fire officials said they're conducting an internal investigation into the incident and have so far discovered: "the member responsible for bringing the figurine into the fire station and displaying it in the manner described self-identified."

Fire officials said several members of the department's rank-and-file will also face disciplinary action, including a lieutenant, captain, battalion chief and a deputy chief, "who were aware of or should have been aware of, the potential for the presence of this figurine displayed in this manner to create a workplace not conducive to a diverse, welcoming, safe
and non-hostile environment."

According to Milwaukee Fire Department officials, each of those accused stand to face charges. More information is expected later this week. The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission has been briefed on the incident, yet so far, no official disciplinary action has been made public, the fire department said.

Milwaukee fire officials said the entire fire department will be undergoing department-wide anti-harassment training in the next few months.

"It is our hope that from this wretched episode greater understanding and positive and real change will occur," the Milwaukee Fire Department said in a news release Sunday.