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David Clarke
| David Clarke | |||
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| Basic facts | |||
| Organization: | Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office | ||
| Role: | Former sheriff | ||
| Location: | Milwaukee, Wis. | ||
| Expertise: | Law Enforcement | ||
| Education: | Concordia University (B.A. criminal justice management) •FBI National Academy •National Executive Institute | ||
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David Clarke is the former Milwaukee County sheriff, a role he filled from 2002 to 2017. Clarke resigned his position on August 31, 2017.[1] Previously, he worked for the Milwaukee Police Department. In November 2016, Clarke was reported to be a potential candidate for a high-level appointment in Donald Trump's administration.[2]
In May 2017, Clarke announced that he had accepted a position as an assistant secretary of partnership and engagement in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.[3] He never filled the position, and in September 2017, he joined a super PAC in support of President Donald Trump's (R) policy agenda.[4]
Career
Milwaukee Police Department
David Clarke, a Milwaukee native, graduated from Concordia University, majoring in criminal justice management. He began his law enforcement career in 1978, when he joined the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). He served as a patrol officer for 11 years.[5][6]
In 1989, Clarke was promoted to detective with the MPD. As detective, he was assigned to the homicide division where, according to his reelection website, he and his team made an arrest in 80 percent of their cases.[6]
In 1992, Clarke received a promotion as Lieutenant of Detectives and assumed a position with the Criminal Investigation Bureau as a Shift Commander for Crimes Against Property Division, the Violent Crimes Unit, and also the Homicide Division.[5] In 1996, Clarke was promoted to captain of the command staff and commander of the department's First District.[6][5]
In 1999, Clarke was once again promoted; Clarke became commanding officer in the Intelligence Division for the MPD, where he "was responsible for producing and sharing intelligence, and providing dignitary protection in conjunction with the Secret Service, the Department of State, and other federal agencies."[5]
Milwaukee County Sheriff
In 2002, Clarke ran for Milwaukee county sheriff and won by a margin of 64 percent, which he followed up with a 69 percent victory in 2006, then winning in 2010 by nearly 163,000 votes, and garnering 261,776 votes in 2014.[7][8][9][6]
In 2013, Clarke received his Master's in security studies from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security.[5] In February 2015, Clarke received the Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire Award from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).[10]
Resignation
Clarke resigned his position on August 31, 2017.[1]
Political activity
| Possible Trump appointee (first term) |
|---|
|
| During the 2016 presidential transition of power, Clarke was reported to be in consideration for a high-level appointment in Donald Trump's (R) first term. |
Full list of possible appointees |
See also: Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025 |
Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
During the 2016 presidential election, Clarke was a supporter of and surrogate for Donald Trump (R). He spoke at the Republican National Convention, saying of Trump, "Throughout his campaign and over many years before he has consistently and constantly raised his voice not only in defense of the character of the American police officer, but the need for all people to feel they are being treated fairly and respectfully by law enforcement."[11]
During the final weeks of the campaign, Clarke traveled with a group of Trump surrogates in a tour sponsored by the pro-Trump super PAC Great America PAC.[12]
America First Action
On September 5, 2017, Clarke announced that he would join the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action, a group associated with the pro-Trump nonprofit America First Policies, as a spokesperson and senior advisor. At the time of his appointment to America First, Clarke said the role "gives me the chance to do what I love most—promote President Trump’s agenda, including his fierce support for the American law enforcement officer, and ensure that the will of the American people who got President Trump elected is not derailed by the left or the self-serving Washington establishment."[4]
Stances
On firearm ownership
In 2015, he released a radio advertisement encouraging citizens to "consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm" because "simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option." Clarke first became nationally prominent within conservative circles because of this ad, according to National Review.[13] In May 2016, he spoke further on policies surrounding firearms, telling the NRA, "My ancestors fought hard and shed blood for the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, and I am not going to cede that right back to the federal government, or any level government for that matter, and neither should you."[14]
On Black Lives Matter
Clarke is a prominent opponent of the Black Lives Matter movement. In July 2016, in an opinion piece for Fox News, Clarke wrote:[15]
| “ | White America needs to be brave, they need to stand up against this latest attack on the Black community by the likes of Black Lives Matter – to be unafraid to face the condemnation of the powerful but morally reprehensible liberal elites and mainstream media pushing these lies. Stand by the side of law enforcement, the men and women who are often the only semblance of hope and justice in the crime-ridden inner cities.[16] | ” |
He also told CNN that he considered Black Lives Matter to be responsible for violence against police officers throughout the country, saying, "My message has been clear from day one two years ago, this anti-cop sentiment from this hateful ideology called Black Lives Matter has fueled this rage against the American police officer."[17]
Media
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'David Clarke'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office
- The People's Sheriff, Re-Elect David A. Clark
- David Clarke on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "David A. Clarke Jr. resigns as Milwaukee County sheriff," August 31, 2017
- ↑ The New York Times, "Donald Trump Is Choosing His Cabinet. Here’s the Latest Shortlist," November 21, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Sheriff David Clarke lands job at Homeland Security," May 17, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Politico, "Sheriff Clarke joins pro-Trump super PAC," September 5, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Milwaukee County Sheriff, "Meet the Sheriff," accessed September 24, 2105
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 The People's Sheriff, Re-elect David Clarke, 2014, "Meet the Milwaukee County Sheriff," accessed September 24, 2015
- ↑ County of Milwaukee, "General Election 2006, Sheriff," accessed September 24, 2015
- ↑ County of Milwaukee, "General Election 2014, Sheriff," accessed September 24, 2015
- ↑ County of Milwaukee, "Election results 2010," accessed September 24, 2015
- ↑ CBS 58 WDJT, "Sheriff David Clarke given the Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire Award," February 27, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Milwaukee sheriff at RNC: 'Blue lives matter,'" July 18, 2016
- ↑ PR Newswire, "Great America PAC Bus Tour Generating Grassroots Excitement As It Moves Through Two More Swing States Per Co-Chair Eric Beach," November 6, 2016
- ↑ National Review, "David Clarke: The Sheriff as Rebel," April 27, 2015
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "David Clarke tells NRA: Be wary of 'freedom-loathing gun-haters,'" May 10, 2016
- ↑ Fox News, "Sheriff David Clarke: It's time to stand up to Black Lives Matter," July 11, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ TalkingPointsMemo, "Trump Ally Sheriff David Clarke Jr. Says It's 'Pitchforks and Torches Time,'" October 15, 2016
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