A former probationary police officer is taking legal action against a city police department, claiming wrongful termination without due process. Robert Moy filed a complaint on December 4, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Division, against the City of Milwaukee and its Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on December 6, 2022, when Moy was accused of being involved in a hit-and-run accident in the parking lot of a gentleman’s club. Despite denying involvement and cooperating with an investigation by the Franklin Police Department that resulted in no charges or citations, Moy was terminated from his position as a probationary officer with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) without receiving proper notice or an opportunity to defend himself. According to Moy’s complaint, this action violated his rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and contravened MPD’s own Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Moy began his training with MPD on April 20, 2022, graduated from the police academy in late October 2022, and was working as a probationary officer at the time of his termination. His employment was set to become permanent upon completing a 16-month probationary period in August 2023. The complaint highlights that even as a probationary employee, Moy had a protected property interest in continued employment and was entitled to due process protections before termination.
The crux of Moy’s argument is that he was denied these protections when he was abruptly placed on administrative leave following an internal affairs interview about the alleged incident. He claims he did not receive any formal notification letter or disciplinary charges summary as mandated by MPD SOPs. Furthermore, he asserts that this lack of due process reflects a broader policy or custom within MPD and endorsed by Chief Norman to terminate probationary employees without affording them their constitutional rights.
In seeking redress from the court, Moy requests several forms of relief: back pay with interest, compensation for economic and non-economic damages including emotional distress, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs associated with the lawsuit. Additionally, he seeks reinstatement as a full MPD officer or alternatively front pay if reinstatement is not feasible. He also requests injunctive relief to prevent further violations of due process rights by MPD.
Representing Robert Moy is attorney Ben Hitchcock Cross from Cross Law Firm S.C., based in Milwaukee. The case has been assigned Case No. 2:25-cv-01910 but does not yet list any presiding judge.
Source: 225cv01910_Moy_v_City_of_Milwaukee_Complaint_Eastern_District_Wisconsin.pdf
