Adam Procell out as OCWS director; ineligible to hold the position after department was reclassified
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Adam Procell, Mayor Cavalier Johnson's outside pick to lead the Milwaukee Office of Community Wellness and Safety, is out as director.
Mayor Johnson announced the change at a news conference Friday, January 30, at City Hall, expressing frustration and anger that Procell is no longer eligible to serve in the position.
"It's been a difficult 24 hours, to say the least," said Adam Procell at the news conference.
It comes down to a legality: as a convicted felon, Adam Procell cannot lead a city department.
Procell added, "I hope I've led with the grace and humility and shown that, yes, those that have made mistakes and spent an inordinate amount of time outside society can contribute, if given the chance."
Procell’s allies are devastated, saying he’s perfect for the role.
And this process is exposing tension between the mayor’s office and the common council.
The move is the result of a recent legal interpretation of the office. Article 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution reads: "No person convicted of a felony, in any court within the United States… shall be eligible to any office of trust, profit or honor in this state unless pardoned of the conviction."
Previously, the OCWS was housed in the city's Department of Administration. But last fall it was established as its own department. A city official told us that now means the state law applies to the director of the OCWS, according to an interpretation made by City Attorney Evan Goyke this week.
Procell is a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to serve under that interpretation. He's been open about his conviction from when he was a teen, about his time in prison, and about his rehabilitation.
When he was 15, Procell was sentenced to life in prison for a gang-related homicide. He was eventually released after serving nearly ten years in prison.
When he was appointed director last August, he introduced himself by saying, "My name is Adam Procell, and three days after I turned 15 years old, I made the worst decision a human could make, and that decision cost Robert [Bruce] his life."
At the time, Johnson said Procell "brings a lot of value to a position like this, and that's exactly what Adam brings to this, to this opportunity."
On Friday, Johnson said, "It's part of his history that's actually added to his work and qualifications in the crime prevention field."
Johnson appointed Procell director August 18, 2025. At that time, the OCWS was part of the city's Department of Administration. And Procell, as a felon, could serve as the head of an office at that level.
But after the common council voted to make the OCWS into its own department last fall, the city attorney determined the state constitution does not allow felons to lead city departments.
Procell's allies defended him fiercely at the news conference.
Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said, "The city of Milwaukee is losing something today. And it is losing something so great we don't even know the damage that's going to be caused by this. Adam is irreplaceable."
But several members of the common council took issue with the process.
District 10 Alderwoman Sharlen Moore told us, "Let me say that this has nothing to do with Adam. He is just the bystander in all of this."
Last summer, three other people were announced as finalists for the position. On July 21 and 22, those three participated in two community town hall meetings, addressing questions from the public.
But less than a month later, Johnson appointed Procell.
As a result, "We needed to create a process that the community can be involved in," Moore said.
Last fall, Alderman Scott Spiker proposed making the Office of Community Wellness and Safety its own department in order to introduce oversight and require council approval for the director position.
Spiker told us, "It's a principle that divided government with council involvement is good for the office, will help to ensure we get a really great candidate."
During the city budgeting process last fall, the Common Council voted to move the OCWS out of the Department of Administration, establishing the OCWS as its own department.
It passed unanimously, twice.
But alders tell us that at the time, no one knew it would jeopardize Procell's eligibility to serve.
We asked Spiker Friday if reclassifying the Office was a backdoor way to get Procell out of the office. He told us, "No. I have a good relationship with Adam. I know he views this as a vocation, as a life's work."
Nonetheless, it creates a vacancy in a leadership position.
And it exposes some tension between the council and the mayor's office.
Alderwoman Moore said, "We are tired of the administration making these decisions in silo and not including the community."
And the Mayor said, "We've done a number of things together and I'm interested in continuing to work with the council on this and other issues."
We asked if Procell could stay with the department in a lesser role to continue his work. But the mayor doesn’t see that happening, saying it would be a demotion.
Karin Tyler, who was one of the three finalists for the job before Procell, will lead the office in the short term once he leaves.