FPC says MPD detective, demoted over handling of serial rapist case, will remain a detective

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Fire & Police Commission has decided Amy Stolowski, a Milwaukee Police Department detective who was demoted over her handling of a case involving a serial rapist will remain a detective with MPD.

Amy Stolowski



Stolowski was demoted by Milwaukee Police Department officials over her handling of the case -- but she appealed that discipline with the Fire & Police Commission.

The FPC held hearings regarding Stolowski, and after deliberating, ruled Stolowski would be suspended for 20 working days without pay. Her demotion was reversed.

In August, Robert Brown was sentenced to serve 155 years in prison.

Brown violently raped six women -- and for that, a judge said he deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

In June, a Milwaukee County jury ruled Brown was guilty of a dozen criminal charges. Those charges include one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child, three counts of first-degree sexual assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of second-degree sexual assault of a child, three counts of armed robbery and four counts of kidnapping.

Robert Brown



Brown was convicted of raping women at gunpoint in a string of terrifying attacks. Four of his victims were under 18.

Brown would approach women walking on the street and threaten them at gunpoint.  That's what happened in 2014, when he forced a woman into Union Cemetery on N. Teutonia Avenue in Milwaukee.  She was only 14 years old.

The sexual assaults occurred during a three-and-a-half-month period in 2014.

"The defendant's behavior was violent, assaultive, intrusive and nothing short of grotesque," Jessica Ballenger, prosecutor said.

Delays within the Milwaukee Police Department's Sensitive Crimes Unit may have allowed Brown to continue sexually assaulting women. Early on, detectives had tied Brown to an assault through DNA evidence -- but it was weeks until the case was presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

Detective Amy Stolowski was demoted as a result.

Brown was arrested shortly after the charges were filed.

His sentence added up to 155 years because the prison time for each of the sexual assault counts was ordered to be served consecutively. The sentence for the other counts were ordered to be served concurrently.

Brown's attorney had asked for a shorter sentence, indicating Brown had a difficult childhood. But Judge Jeffrey Wagner said it is difficult to sympathize with someone who brutalized so many people.

Prior to issuing his sentence Judge Wagner did not mince words when addressing Brown in court -- calling him a menace to society.

"You're every woman's nightmare. You're this community's nightmare. Your reign of terror has ended. There should be no light at the end of the tunnel for yourself because of these horrific, horrendous, evil attacks on these young women. There should be no light at the end of the tunnel for yourself," said Judge Wagner.