Milwaukee police officer child abuse charges; initial appearance

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee police officer charged with felony child abuse – as well as suffocation and strangulation made his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Tuesday, Jan. 23. 

The accused is 30-year-old Frank Williams. He is currently suspended by the Milwaukee Police Department.

According to a criminal complaint, Milwaukee police responded to Children's Wisconsin on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in response to a child abuse complaint.

A Milwaukee police sergeant conducted a "minimal facts interview" of the child, the victim, in the emergency room at the hospital. The child indicated Williams "whooped" them with a belt, resulting in bruising on the child's left thigh, the complaint states. The sergeant also observed "7 to 8 distinct brown and reddish bruises on (the child's) left thigh."

Frank Williams

On Jan. 18, the next day, a forensic interview of the child was conducted at the Racine Child Advocacy Center. The child told an investigator Williams beat them and gave them a "whooping" everywhere on their body because they were supposed to take a nap, but stayed awake.

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According to the criminal complaint, the child said at one point, Williams beat them with a belt, and then put his hands around their throat and choked them. The child said this was not the first time this had happened. 

Public records show Williams has been an officer with the Milwaukee Police Department for more than seven years. He was arrested Thursday morning at his home on the city's northwest side.

The judge set Williams' signature bond at $5,000. He is ordered to have no contact with the victim.