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The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee police chief who was placed on administrative leave and demoted to police captain after trading Internet messages of a sexual nature with a female student has been terminated by the university.

Michael Marzion, accused of "inappropriate and unprofessional conduct," lost his job at the conclusion of a disciplinary process and investigation into his communications with the student last spring.

Marzion was on administrative leave, with pay, while the university followed the required disciplinary process. His salary was $125,671; he became chief in January 2010.

An independent investigator, former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Gary A. Gerlach, concluded in June that Marzion did not violate school policies involving discriminatory conduct during exchanges with the female student between April 7 and 15.

But Gerlach said he found the chief's conduct a concern because the campus police department at times investigates reports of campus sexual harassment.

The student accused Marzion of sexually harassing behavior. Marzion acknowledged that he sent messages to the student, demonstrated a "lack of judgment" and could not explain his conduct.

Gerlach found the student encouraged the communications, and "in some instances, communications of a sexual nature."