Posted June 12, 2007

Policeman accused of being illegal immigrant taken off payroll

The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE — A man federal authorities say is an illegal immigrant who assumed the identity of a dead relative and became a Milwaukee police officer has been taken off the department’s payroll, a spokeswoman for the agency says.


Anne E. Schwartz said Monday the move was taken against Oscar Ayala-Cornejo, 24, who is charged with falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

He was taken off the payroll Friday on the advice of the city attorney’s office, Schwartz said.

Fired officers continue to be paid in Milwaukee until their appeal is exhausted under a state law unique to the city’s police force, but Deputy City Attorney Rudolph Konrad said that law did not apply in this case.

“Federal law trumps state law,â€