David Clarke Jr.

Clarke Jr. is a law enforcement executive with 38-plus years of experience. His public service career began in 1978, at the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), where he served 24 distinguished years. During his eleven years as a Patrol Officer, he received meritorious citations for felony arrests. In 1989, he was promoted to Detective and nine months later was selected for the specialized Homicide Division, where he was part of a team that investigated more than 400 homicides in a four year period. MPD made arrests in more than 80% of homicides, well above the national average of 60%. Clarke was promoted in 1992, to Lieutenant of Detectives and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Bureau as Shift Commander of the Crimes Against Property Division, the Violent Crimes Unit, and again to the Homicide Division. In 1996, he was promoted to MPD’s command staff as Captain of Police, and soon became Commander of the Department’s First District, located in Milwaukee’s downtown business and entertainment center. In 1999, Clarke became Commanding Officer of MPD’s Intelligence Division which 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. He served as MPD’s liaison with the United States Attorney’s Office as coordinator of the CEASEFIRE violent crime reduction program, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs Service, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. In November 2002, he was elected to his first four-year term as Sheriff of Milwaukee County, earning 64% of the vote. Sheriff Clarke is now in his fourth term, having been re-elected in November 2006, 2010, and 2014, increasing his victory margins to 73%, 74% and 79% respectively. When speaking at the Republican National Convention, he received attention for stating “blue lives matter.” Sheriff Clarke is a frequent guest commentator for national news services and organizations regarding law enforcement, Second Amendment, and homeland security issues. Affiliations: American Jail Association, National Sherriff’s Association, Conservative Political Action Conference