The city of Milwaukee will pay $825,000 to resolve two claims brought forward after alleged police misconduct.
The payments will end legal action surrounding the death of a woman who was run over by a Milwaukee police officer in 2025, and in the lawsuit made by a couple who were repeatedly the subject of false claims to police and prompting numerous police responses between 2022 and 2023. Milwaukee Common Council passed the payments June 2.
The family of Haley Linville will receive $250,000 in connection to her Sept. 16, 2025, death.
A Milwaukee police officer was responding to the city’s south side for a welfare check when, as Linville lay at the entrance of an alleyway, an officer ran her over. She later died at the hospital.
The other payment, for $575,000, will go to Niki Robinson and Patrick Tomlinson. Police were dispatched 45 times to their home over a two-year span. The city admitted in court documents that police knew the couple was being targeted by fake emergency calls.
The city denied searches related to the calls were illegal.
The payments still require Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s signature for final approval. Spokesperson Jeff Fleming said the mayor will decide whether to sign off in coming days.
“He is inclined to support the council action,” Fleming said in a text message.
An attorney for Linville’s family initially sought over $21 million for her death, but Wisconsin state statute caps civil settlements at $250,000.
Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic, who abstained from voting on Linville settlement, said the amount was not enough for the family.
“We need to continue to hold people accountable,” she said. “Quite frankly, too many women in particular I’m seeing not getting the standard of care they need from the city of Milwaukee.”
City Attorney Evan Goyke brought the settlements to the Common Council. His office has agreed to several large settlements since Goyke began his term in 2024.
The Milwaukee Police Association, the union for rank-and-file officers, criticized Goyke for those settlements, arguing he has not done enough to defend officers.
In Milwaukee, taxpayers bear the costs of any settlements.
David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee to pay $825,000 to end two police cases
Reporting by David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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