• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / Efforts to remove Sheriff Clarke come to Capitol

Efforts to remove Sheriff Clarke come to Capitol

April 26, 2017 By Bob Hague

WRN photo

As an inquest into a death at the county jail continues, growing calls for Governor Scott Walker to remove Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke from office. Christine Neumann-Ortiz of the immigrant rights group Voces De La Frontera was at the Capitol on Wednesday, delivering a petition calling for Clarke’s removal to the office of Governor Scott Walker.

Neumann-Ortiz said Clarke’s “total disregard for people’s’ human rights” has created “a culture of fear and abuse” at the jail. “He should be removed from office,” she said, adding that Walker has the authority to do that.

Walker said that while a governor does theoretically have the power, “the practice in this state has been to defer, no matter who it is, to the electorate of that given county.” Walker said no governor, Democrat or Republican, has ever removed a constitutional officer such as sheriff from office.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office has been conducting the inquest this week, into the April 2016 death of inmate Terrill Thomas. Thomas, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was found dead in his cell after going without water or a mattress for 7 days.

“He (Clarke) delights, and takes pride in saying how he has no regard for people’s’ lives or how they’re treated, or the consequences,” Neaumann-Ortiz said. “It’s his mission to promote public safety, and he’s completely undermining that mission.”

Thomas’ death was one of four at the jail last year — including an inmate’s newborn. “Obviously we’re concerned about that at any institution, and we’ll look at what the reports are,” Walker said. Asked whether he thinks Clarke has done a responsible job in running the jail, Walker said he’s “not in a position to analyze that,” based on media reports he’s read.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Wisconsin veterans cheer passage of PACT Act

Lasry leaves U.S. Senate race and endorses Barnes

Trump will host Waukesha campaign rally for Tim Michels

U.S. House passes Respect for Marriage Act

Former UW Chancellor Blank’s cancer diagnosis means she will not take Northwestern job

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...