Pubdate: Wed, 09 Aug 2006
Source: Shepherd Express (Milwaukee, WI)
Copyright: 2006 Alternative Publications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.shepherd-express.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/414
Author: Name Withheld

CLARKE'S CAMPAIGN FLIERS

Your recent article came out at the same time I received a mailing
from Sheriff David Clarke's campaign containing literature with some
very interesting statements ("Why Sheriff Clarke Failed Milwaukee," by
Lisa Kaiser, July 19). In a letter contained in his standard packet
asking for financial and other support, he states:

"After an unfortunate period of neglect going back many years, we are
just now well into a program that will eventually provide outstanding
security for you and your family."

It appears that this must be some kind of reference to the neglect
given the parks and buses until very recently. This is interesting
because the years of neglect he refers to happened during his tenure!
He disbanded the Parks and Transit unit and moved those officers,
along with numerous freeway positions, into the jail to save overtime.
After a few years, guess what? There are problems on the buses. There
are problems in the parks.

But his literature goes much further into the murky world of untruths.
It states: "My main job is to protect you and your family from the
evil elements in our society such as the many types of criminals,
drunken drivers, sexual predators and drug pushers."

How are we protected from the evil drug pushers when Clarke has ended
the sheriff's participation in the Metro Drug unit, severely reduced
involvement in the HIDTA program, and has cut the Sheriff's
Department's own drug-enforcement unit by half? How does removing
deputies from the freeway make us safer from drunken drivers? How is
touting a "computer sex crimes" unit that is supposedly tasked with
arresting sexual predators, but in reality exists on a part-time basis
at best, protecting us from these deviants?

Also included in this campaign mailing is a slick pamphlet that serves
to mostly outline Clarke's "education and experience." This includes
several weekend seminars and conventions where he typically stayed in
$400-a-night hotels and had items shipped to his home included in the
hotel bill, all paid for by Milwaukee County taxpayers. But as a
veteran Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy, I can easily say that the
most repugnant and laughable statement declares:

"With a clear vision, our personnel are beginning to develop an esprit
de corps that, in time, will make them the envy of other
law-enforcement agencies."

A clear vision? What vision? Esprit de corps? Guess again, Mr. Clarke.
The morale in your organization is at an all-time low. With any luck,
after Sept. 12, the men and women of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's
Department can again look for morale to improve. On that day, 96% of
the deputies will be voting for Vince Bobot. I hope most of your
readers will join us.

(Please don't use my name. I don't want to get handed a bus pass and
assigned to shovel out the elephant cages at the zoo.)

Name Withheld

Milwaukee County Deputy Sheriff
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake