Milwaukee Officer Fired for Alleged On-Duty Sexual Assault

MILWAUKEE WI-- A longtime Milwaukee police officer is fired after an allegation that he sexually assaulted a woman while he was on duty.

The case dates to July, when the 13-year veteran was responding to a report of a fight in the street and wound-up accused of sexually assaulting a young woman.

Officers were called in July to a neighborhood around 15th and Center Streets to break up a fight in the street.

After they restored order, a 19-year-old woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by 42-year-old Ladmarald Cates, a police officer, while inside her home.

The district attorney's office investigated the sexual assault claim and decided against charging Cates, stating that they did not feel they could meet the burden of proof.

But the city has decided to fire Cates for his behavior that night and for lying about it later.

According to the Fire and Police Commission order upholding Cates' firing by Milwaukee Police, Cates was fired for two counts of untruthfulness, and one count of idling and loafing.

That order dated Friday indicates Cates was interviewed on two occasions, and he lied both times.

12 News has learned this is not Cates' first discipline.

Prior to this internal investigation, Cates had been suspended on four prior occasions for a total of 14 days.

According to his official police employment record, the violations ranged from lying to "failing to preserve the peace," to the mistreatment of a prisoner.

Milwaukee police said Wednesday that the order to fire Cates speaks for itself.

Cates has appealed the firing but no hearing has been set. He is the fourth officer fired by the department this year.