Former Milwaukee Police Detective Rodolfo Gómez Jr. Indicted By Feds For Using Excessive Force

Former Milwaukee Police Detective Gómez Jr. allegedly beat a murder suspect while being questioned for the homicide of a 7-year-old child.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 6, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that a federal grand jury in Milwaukee indicted former Milwaukee Police Department Detective Rodolfo Gómez, Jr., 49, for willfully depriving Deron Darnell Love of his civil right not to be subjected to excessive force, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. If convicted, Gómez could be sentenced to a maximum possible term of imprisonment of ten years, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a term of supervised release not to exceed three years.

The charge is based on the allegation that, in an interview room in the Police Administration Building on August 14, 2013, Gómez repeatedly punched Love in the face and head and kneed him in the torso, all while one of the victim's hands was handcuffed to a wall in the interview room. Gómez stopped punching and kicking the victim when a police lieutenant who heard yelling entered the room. The federal indictment alleges that the force used was unreasonable and that the Love suffered bodily injury.

According to the Milwaukee County criminal complaint, Gómez was charged with several felony counts after he was caught on video surveillance in the interrogation room punching Love in the upper body. Gómez was removed from the room by another officer who witnessed the beating. Gómez came back in with several Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies to move Love into another cell. 

On February 2015, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court jury found Gómez not guilty on both felony counts, for misconduct in public office, including excessive use authority and for abuse of a resident of a penal facility. Gómez a 12-year veteran with the police force had been suspended with pay until the outcome of the case. On December 2013, Gómez was terminated from the Milwaukee Police Department. He appealed his termination, but has not been reinstated by the Fire and Police Commission.
Love who was charged with two felony counts for first-degree reckless homicide and neglect in the death of his 7-year-old son was taken to a hospital for treatment after the incident. On September 12, 2014, a jury found Love not guilty on both counts.
On October 14, 2014, Love filed a lawsuit against Gómez for striking him while in custody in 2013.