Clarke tries damage control -- and fails

Day 3 of David Clarke's campaign to end killings in Milwaukee's central city:

Clarke, trying to mitigate the disaster he's created, takes my advice and goes into the central city himself, accompanying the deputy he sentenced to conduct a one-man foot patrol in Milwaukee's most dangerous neighborhood. Too late. The cameras and reporters were all there the day before.

[UPDATE: Radio news reported this morning that Clarke was on a bus on his way to Schuh's beat, apparently to walk it with him.]

And the deputy, Michael Schuh, says Clarke started off by reprimanding him for the way he's running the one-man patrol, although he was given no guidance, no partner, no squad car and almost no notice of the new assignment -- which came after Schuh wrote something critical of Clarke in a union newsletter.

The union, meanwhile, filed a federal lawsuit, which you can read about in today's story.

It says that Schuh, 55, "has suffered damage to his reputation, real and probable injury to his person, extreme mental anguish (and) physical suffering." It demands that Schuh be returned to his previous position as a bailiff. It also asks for damages and attorney's fees. Schuh's attorney, Jonathan Cermele, said Wednesday that He hopes"in the short-term .. .the sheriff will recognize that what he has done is inappropriate, and if he doesn't assign him back as a bailiff, he will at least provide proper police presence (for the new assignment)."

And a majority of the members of the Couonty Board signed a letter to Clarke, saying Clalrke should reconsider the blatantly shortsighted, irresponsible and potentially dangerous move of placing a deputy as a one-man foot patrol in the streets."

They blasted Clarke for duplicating city of Milwaukee police service and supporting a "senseless" approach to dealing with the area's homicide crisis. The letter goes on to call Clarke's actions "appalling, valueless, and completely unacceptable."

"On a personal level, we find it shameful and disgraceful that you publicly belittle a decorated Vietnam veteran on a disagreement that could have been handled within the Department," the letter adds.

All in a day's work for Fearless Leader David Clarke.

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VIEW FROM THE INSIDE. This blog gives a sense how Clarke's deputies feel about his leadership style.