He "rose through the ranks at a slow but steady pace in his 24 years with the department." Clarke was a patrol officer for eleven years and then a homicide detective he was promoted to lieutenant of detectives in 1993 and captain in 1999. His career in law enforcement began in 1978 at the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). After finishing high school, Clarke took classes at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee but dropped out during his first year when he got a job driving beer trucks. attended Marquette University High School where he played for the varsity basketball team. His uncle was NFL player Frank Clarke, whom he idolized. His father was a paratrooper with the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company. 4 Career as media commentator after resignationĬlarke was born in Milwaukee, one of five children of Jeri and David Clarke Sr.3.8 Conservative media commentary and absences from Milwaukee County.3.7 Donald Trump support and possible role in Trump administration.3.5 Airport harassment and abuse-of-power investigation and lawsuit.3.3.2 Death of newborn and shackling of pregnant women.3.3 House of Correction and detainee abuse controversies.3.1 Budget and clashes with the Government of Milwaukee County.2.5 Ideology and relationships with Republican and Democratic parties.
A vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, Clarke garnered attention for controversial and sometimes inflammatory social-media posts, and was considered for a role in the Trump administration. Clarke frequently appeared as a guest on Fox News through February 2018 and was a speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention. One man died of thirst in what a coroner ruled was a homicide, and pregnant women were handcuffed and shackled while undergoing labor. Although Clarke declared himself as Democrat after his appointment as sheriff and ran as a Democrat in a heavily Democratic county, many of Clarke's political views align with those of conservative Republicans he refused to join the Wisconsin Democratic Party, instead promoting conservative views, and allying himself with Republican officials.Īs sheriff, Clarke frequently clashed with other Milwaukee County officials over the budget and other matters, and came under scrutiny for deaths and alleged mistreatment of jail inmates. In 2002, Clarke was appointed to the position by Republican Governor Scott McCallum and later elected that same year to his first four-year term. (born August 21, 1956) is an American former law enforcement official who served as Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, from 2002 to 2017. We reached out to the Sheriff's Office multiple times for comment and haven't heard back as of Tuesday night.David Alexander Clarke Jr. "I just want people to know that this is how he acts."