Sheriff David Clarke

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke has resigned effective 11:59 p.m. Aug. 31.

Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson received a letter from the sheriff saying he was resigning effective at midnight.

The letter stated, “Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §17.01, this communication is submitted at the notice of my resignation as Sheriff of Milwaukee County commencing August 31, 2017, at 11:59 p.m.

"Per Chapter 17.01 (5) of the Wisconsin State Statute, resignation of the Sheriff is made “to the county clerk, who shall immediately transmit notice thereof to the governor.”

Clarke did not provide the clerk with a reason for his abrupt departure. And Clarke's spokeswoman did not immediately respond to telephone messages and emails from reporters seeking comment.

Clarke, a right-wing firebrand, is famous for making racist and provocative statements on Fox News and conservative talk radio, as well as social media. He’s been embroiled in controversy for much, if not all, of his time as Milwaukee County’s chief lawman.

His tenure began in 2002, when he was appointed to the office by then-Gov. Scott McCallum, a Republican. He ran on the Democratic ticket despite his views and was re-elected in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

But he faced problems at the polls next year due to high-profile deaths at Milwaukee County Jail and his bizarre public antics. A Public Policy Polling survey in January found that only 13 percent of Democratic primary voters still supported Clarke. 

Jailhouse deaths

Seven workers at the Milwaukee County Jail are at the center of a criminal investigation into the dehydration death last year of 38-year-old Terrill Thomas, an inmate who prosecutors say was deprived of water as punishment.

Clarke, is responsible for the jail, but he isn't among the seven staffers because prosecutors said he wasn't directly involved in the events that led to Thomas' death. But, relatives of Thomas have filed two lawsuits in the death, both of them naming Clarke among the defendants.

Thomas was one of four people, including a newborn baby, who died in the jail last year. Voces de la Frontera and numerous other groups, as well as Democratic leaders, had called on Gov. Scott Walker to remove Clarke from office.

Clarke’s critics celebrated when he announced in June that he’d accepted a job with the Trump administration in the Department of Homeland Security. Clarke was an early and fervent Trump supporter.

But, without saying why, Homeland Security announced shortly afterward that Clarke was no longer a candidate for a position in the agency.

Some Wisconsin conservatives had been encouraging Clarke to challenge U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, next year, but he has repeatedly rejected their overtures.

Here's reaction

From Voces de la Frontera:

"This is a victory for the people of Milwaukee County and the state of Wisconsin," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant rights group. "We stopped David Clarke from being appointed to the Trump administration, and today we have driven him from office. The efforts of immigrant families and our coalition partners to hold Clarke accountable for his discriminatory abuses, for the torture, sexual abuse and deaths at the hands of his guards in his jail, have won this victory. We demanded his resignation and today we have succeeded."

A statement from the organization said: "Sheriff Clarke had made himself a mouthpiece for white supremacists by attacking the Black Lives Matter movement and making bigoted statements against the Black, Latinx, Muslim, and LGBTQ residents of Milwaukee County he was sworn to protect."

Clarke's moves to use the federal 287g program to give sheriff's deputies authority to racially profile and detain immigrant families for deportation sparked two general strikes organized by Voces de la Frontera — one on Feb. 13, joined by 50,000 immigrant workers and supporters, and one on May 1. 

Voces de la Frontera called on Gov. Scott Walker to "appoint a sheriff that will not bring 287g to Milwaukee County and will stop honoring unconstitutional ICE detainer requests. We call on Walker to appoint a sheriff who will work respectfully with the community to transform a sheriff's department and county jail rife with human rights abuses."

From Milwaukee County Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde: "I am pleased to learn of the resignation of David Clarke, who obviously no longer wanted to be Sheriff of Milwaukee County, and had lost touch with the people.

"Nevertheless, this news is bittersweet, as we are left with incomplete answers regarding what led to the massive failures in his jail.

"Sadly, the public may never get a full accounting from Clarke regarding his failures, which is why it is important for the legal system to take whatever action they deem appropriate."

From Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr.: "Milwaukee County's next sheriff should be someone who is focused on public safety and responsive to our community's needs by upholding the highest professional standards."

From state Sen. Lena C. Taylor, D-Milwaukee: “This is truly a good Thursday. I want to thank Sheriff Clarke for his decision to step down. After years of abuse at his hands, the people of Milwaukee can sleep soundly tonight.”

From U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee: “David Clarke’s untimely departure as Milwaukee County sheriff isn’t just a victory for Milwaukee, but for all of those whose rights and dignity were violated during his tenure. Joe Arpaio-like law enforcement figures like Clarke, who prioritize partisan fame over their constituents' safety, have no place in our local or federal government.

“Rather than being a valuable voice in the national conversation over the strained relationship between police and the communities they serve, Clarke allowed his appetite for the spotlight to erode his credibility and weaken his authority as sheriff.

"As too many of my constituents can attest to, he cared more about his office looking bad than doing good. Milwaukee County deserved better.

“Clearly, Clarke was incapable of serving the residents who elected him to office as was only interested in serving a constituency of one: himself.

"However, even in his absence, I will continue to push Gov. Scott Walker and the Justice Department to hold Clarke responsible for the lives destroyed under his watch like Terrill Thomas, Michael Madden, Kristina Fiebrink and Shadé Swayzer's newborn baby girl.

"In the meantime, I call on Gov. Walker to appoint a sheriff who will take their job seriously, value compassion over condescension, and put people before politics.”

From Earnell Lucas, candidate for Milwaukee County Sheriff: “I have a deep and abiding commitment to this community, and I have the experience in law enforcement and public safety to be the next Milwaukee County Sheriff. …

“We will see what the process is going forward, but regardless, I will continue to be a candidate for a full term as sheriff in 2018, and I look forward to earning the trust of Milwaukee County voters.”

And here's Clarke's retirement statement: “After almost 40 years serving the great people of Milwaukee County, I have chosen to retire to pursue other opportunities. I will have news about my next steps in the very near future.”

Editor's note: This story is developing and will be updated.

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