Report accuses Milwaukee city attorney and deputy of neglect of duty and misconduct; referred to DA for charges

MILWAUKEE (CBS58) -- Two City of Milwaukee officials are accused of criminal misconduct for violating state law. In a newly released report, Milwaukee's Office of the Inspector General says the City Attorney and one of his deputies cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.

The report cites misrepresentation, deceit, and dishonesty.

The two men accused are City Attorney Tearman Spencer and Deputy City Attorney Odalo Ohiku.

The report says Ohiku worked for his private practice cashing city checks, and that Spencer knew about it. It cost taxpayers more than $5700.

When Ohiku was sworn into office in October 2020, he was given six months to wrap up work at his private practice, then a six-month extension.

But the Inspector General said that work did not stop, and that Ohiku worked for both the private practice and the city.

The OIG found there were 11 days Ohiku worked at the private practice while claiming he was working for the city. He pocketed more than $5700 from city taxpayers for those 11 days.

The 57-page report says City Attorney Tearman Spencer was aware of it, in violation of several local and state regulations.

At one point the OIG wrote "CA Spencer does not enforce or does not have adequate internal controls in place to prevent or deter this type of abuse."

And the OIG went further, saying at various times Spencer "disregarded his duty of public trust", did not "follow and enforce applicable rules and regulations", "ignored his obligation as a public officer", and "knowingly, intentionally, and wrongfully jeopardizing the city’s public reputation, trust and image".

The OIG made 16 recommendations in the report, among them:

She will refer both Ohiku and Spencer to the District Attorney's office for violating state law.

She recommends the common council discuss removing both from office.

And she will refer both to the state's Office of Lawyer Regulation.

Calls and emails to both Spencer and Ohiku were not returned.

The Milwaukee Common Council's Judiciary and Legislation Committee will consider the report at a meeting Monday morning at City Hall.