David Clarke: Shut up or lose your stripes

Just in case you thought Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke didn't have a sense of humor:

The deputies union doesn't like the way Clarke has been making promotions, giving people temporary promotions that he can then take away if they don't toe the line and march in lockstep with him.

One of the deputies who had been temporarily promoted to sergeant testified before the Milwaukee County Civil Service Commission against a new promotion system Clarke wanted to put into place.

What happened next? You probably guessed this. The day after his testimony, the sergeant was given a choice by Clarke -- take a demotion or resign. Pretty funny, huh?

At least, those are the claims in a lawsuit filed against Clarke by the union, as reported in the Journal Sentinel.

Incredibly, Clarke's response was to attack deputies and blame them for the mistaken release of a convicted murderer last week. "It would be more helpful if the Deputy Sheriffs' Association board would . . . work with me on matters of mutual concern, such as making sure prisoners aren't improperly released," he said.

Nice try, sheriff, but the buck stops at your office. The prisoner was released on your watch. How about taking some responsibility and showing some leadership, instead of engaging in the finger-pointing for which your friend Scott Walker is famous?