Appeals court upholds firing of Milwaukee Police Officer Richard Schoen, who punched woman

MADISON — A state appeals court has upheld the firing of a Milwaukee police officer who punched a woman and pulled her out of a police car by her hair.

The 1st District Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld the 2012 firing of Officer Richard Schoen for excessive force.

Schoen argued the city's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners did not have the authority to reconsider its initial decision to only suspend him for 60 days.

But the appeals court says the board had the ability to reverse its initial decision and dismiss Schoen.

Jeanie Tracy was arrested by Schoen for disorderly conduct following a 2011 traffic stop.

When removing Tracy from his squad car, Schoen punched her in the head, threw her to the ground and kneed her in the stomach.