Milwaukee’s tough-talking Sheriff David Clarke — who once famously told city residents to arm themselves so they could take out any “clown” who entered their homes — now says that communities shouldn’t rely on “data-driven crap” to fight crime.
Rather, policing ought to be all about getting law enforcement agents on the ground, so they can lock up criminals, he said, Fox News reported.
Sheriff Clarke said academics and political elites do more harm than good by latching on to criminal justice theories and studies to promote their vision of fighting crime, Politico reported.
Better to boot the “data-driven crap” and get down to the real business of fighting crime — getting more police on the streets, the funding of which could be realized by cutting services like library hours, he said.
“They have no idea whatsoever what urban ghetto life is like,” Sheriff Clarke said, of the elitist class that embraces theories over manpower, Politico reported. “Why they think these things would work in a dysfunctioning community is totally beyond me.”
Sheriff Clarke, an elected official, previously ruffled political feathers by saying publicly in January 2013 that dwindling police manpower meant citizens needed to be prepared to take up arms and take on criminals themselves.
His statement, in a public service announcement: “With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed or you can fight back. But are you prepared? Consider taking certified safety course in handling a firearm so you cant emend yourself until we get there. You have a duty to protect yourself and your family.”
A couple months alter, Sheriff Clarke also told Project Veritas what citizens should do if a “clown” broke into their home.
His words: “Know who and what your target is. Point that barrel center mass and pull the trigger.” He then suggested homeowners could call 911 to “get this dead guy out of my house. He’s bleeding out and messing up my carpet,” he said in the interview.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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