Officer Patrick Fuhrman Arrested for Beating Woman

MILWAUKEE

A Milwaukee police officer faces up to three and a half years in prison after investigators said he beat a woman.

Patrick Fuhrman is a nine-year veteran of the police department.

According to a criminal complaint, Fuhrman beat a woman at his home Monday night.

The victim is also a member of the Milwaukee Police Department.

The woman told investigators that Fuhrman became violent, "grabbing her by the neck with both hands."

She said he threw her to the ground and "beat her several times to the left and right side of the head and nose causing pain, injury and swelling."

The victim was taken to the hospital and received multiple stitches to her lower lip. She was also treated for other injuries sustained in the alleged beating.

Police said they took pictures of a blood trail in the home.

A police department representative said Fuhrman joined the department in June 1999. She said he was suspended Monday night, but before that worked as a member of the new Neighborhood Task Force.

The 200-person task force was started this summer by Police Chief Ed Flynn. The special unit swarms high crime areas and focuses on catching some of the cities most violent criminals.

Fuhrman is charged with substantial battery, which is a felony. He was given a $2,500 cash bond and ordered not to have contact with the victim.

Flynn has said in the past he would take a hard line on his officers who break the law. However, Flynn was out of town on Tuesday and unavailable to comment on Fuhrman's charges.

Fuhrman could be one of the first officers to lose his pay under the new police pay law.

He was suspended with pay. But if he is fired, he is immediately removed from pay roll.

In the past, Milwaukee officers were paid until the end of their criminal case but that controversial law was overturned earlier this year.