Controversy after MPD sergeant who is off the job receives weapons back

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Jason Mucha is the police sergeant at the center of an illegal strip search scandal. He has never been charged, but he is off the job, after doctors claim he is mentally unstable and unable to work. Despite this, a judge has agreed to give Mucha his weapons back.

One-by-one, Milwaukee police officers are learning their fate before Milwaukee County judges. Four officers from District 5 have been convicted in a case involving illegal strip searches.

Two of those officers are spending time behind bars, and two others are waiting to learn their punishment.

The man in charge of their unit, Sergeant Jason Mucha, has never been criminally charged in the case.

Mucha, however, is no longer with the Milwaukee Police Department.

According to an official with Milwaukee's Employee Retirement System, Mucha is now on duty disability. Doctors have determined that Mucha suffers from "major mental trauma" from the stress of media reports from cases he has been involved with.

Mucha's mental state also had courts worried.

Newly released documents show a Milwaukee County court took nine personal weapons from Mucha, fearing his mental state.

Last Friday, October 25th Mucha requested his weapons back -- including handguns, rifles and a shotgun, and a judge agreed.

Alderman Joe Davis Sr. says he questions how a man can be mentally unstable to work, but able to possess multiple weapons.

"I'm more concerned, not only about the general public, but this particular individual who has admitted there may be some mental instability given the circumstances he's been through. There is only two things that could occur: He lied on his application in order for him to receive duty disability, or it's true and we need to take this into extreme consideration when we return firearms of this magnitude," Alderman Davis Sr. said.

A member of the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office says a disability claim is not enough to take away someone's right to possess a firearm.

FOX6 News reached out to Mucha at his home and through his lawyer but did not hear back.