Retaliation against deputy backfires

--Stuart Carlson cartoon, Journal Sentinel

Imagine how surprised Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is to find that he has accidentally sentenced himself to ride the bus to the inner city, where he does a door-to-door patrol (at least while there are reporters around.)

His ill-conceived "plan" to curb violence in Milwaukee's central city has been shown to be a total sham since he ordered a lone deputy, who dared to criticize him, to conduct a one-man patrol. In an attempt to put out the media firestorm, Clarke has insisted that sending Deputy Michael Schuh out on patrol was part of a plan. As further proof, Clarke has spent some time on the beat himself the last two days.

That has pretty much had the effect of adding fuel to the fire, and keeping the story alive. Even the radio talkers have turned on him, although Charlie Sykes did make a feeble attempt today to say it's time to focus on the real problem, the murder rate in the inner city.

Clarke may have finally done himself in and exposed himself as a petty, egomaniacal dictator who can't take criticism and is willing to put one of his men at risk to get even.

The cartoon, and yesterday's editorial were right on the money. Clarke has badly wounded himself, and it may be fatal to his political ambitions -- or even keeping the job he has.

FINAL THOUGHT: Someone asked me today what I thought would have happened if Police Chief Arthur Jones had pulled this stunt.

UPDATE: DAMAGE CONTROL. Clarke says he will assign Schuh a partner, since the publilc seems to want that. Surely he'll be able to find someone else who's ripe for retaliation. Clarke apparently tired of showing up in the central city himself, after two days. Schuh correctly calls it "damage control."Story.