Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn on Wednesday called his firing of four police officers in the first week of May "not statistically significant."

At a short news conference after an outside roll call of motorcycle police officers at the Harley-Davidson Museum, Flynn said the recent firings showed that "the system works."

The cases were thoroughly investigated, he said.

"There was no pattern and the cases were not related. It's no more statistically significant than having five homicides in one week," he said. "It's important to be open with the public," he added.

So far in 2012, Flynn has fired five officers and one officer who was still in her probationary period. During 2011, he fired a total of six sworn officers for the year.

All of the five fired officers have filed appeals with the Fire and Police Commission. The commission then schedules a hearing that determines if the firing stands, or if the officer stays on the job.

The probationary officer, who cannot appeal her firing, was Danielle Scott, 22. She was arrested last week on a state charge of obstructing an officer after allegedly providing false information to police in a homicide investigation. She was fired on Monday.

Because the case is being reviewed by the Milwaukee County district attorney's office, Flynn said he would not discuss details of the case.

Sgt. Christopher J. Gull, 44, a 16-year veteran of the force, was fired May 2. According to the complaint Flynn filed with the Fire and Police Commission in support of the firing, Gull showed a police aide two topless photos on a department computer and also showed a sergeant more photos of an ex-girlfriend performing a sex act, he said.

Flynn was asked why he fired that officer when he only recommended a 60-day suspension for Officer Michael N. Loechler, who was arrested in connection with a domestic violence incident involving his wife in September 2010 during a dispute between the couple in Brookfield. The wife suffered a large red mark and abrasions on her right arm, according to Brookfield police. No charges were filed.

Flynn said that he considered the records of the officers, the degree of harm done and other factors in making judgments on those two cases.

"I'm confident with the decisions I made in both cases," he said.

The other officers fired in May were Richard Schoen and Yoron Whitfield. Schoen was fired for allegedly using excessive force in arresting a 40-year-old woman Sept. 22 during a traffic stop in the 4100 block of N. 51st Blvd.

Whitfield was fired May 1 for allegedly driving drunk on Feb. 4.

On Jan. 25, Flynn fired two other officers, Daniel A. Culver and Jovan M. Petkovich. Culver's appeal hearing before the Fire and Police Commission is scheduled for June 6. Petkovich's hearing is scheduled for June 20.