Born and raised in the City of Milwaukee, I played on the championship varsity basketball team at Marquette University High School. I went on to earn a degree in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University Wisconsin, graduating summa cum laude. As part of my ongoing educational studies, I also graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy and the National Executive Institute in Quantico, Virginia.
My journey of service began with the Milwaukee Police Department in 1978, where I helped protect the city for 11 years as a patrol officer on the streets. After promotion to Detective in 1989, I was assigned to the Homicide Division, investigating close to 100 homicides a year as part of a team and making arrests in over 80% of cases.
My leadership was recognized again in 1992, with a promotion to Lieutenant of Detectives, and in 1996, when I was promoted to the rank of Captain of Police, with assignments as Commander of the Crimes Against Property Division, the department’s First District (downtown), and the Intelligence Division.
In 2002, I won my first election as Sheriff with re-elections in 2006, 2010 and 2014 before vacating the position.
Like me, most people question why the Office of Sheriff is a partisan election. I have never asked a person to vote for me because I run as a Democrat. I ask them to vote for me based on my 35-year commitment to keeping citizens safe. Most voters get it when it comes to public safety. There is no Democrat or Republican way to be a sheriff. The enemy is not the opposing party; the enemy is the criminal.
The line between security and privacy is as thin as it is sharp. Early in 2013, I received an M.A. in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, completing my thesis on domestic intelligence operations and protecting privacy and civil liberties. The co-existence of freedom and safety may be the greatest challenge any leader will face, yet the balance is attainable. As an elected officer and student of the constitution, I’ve devoted my entire life to finding and implementing this balance.
My greatest achievement is: Being named Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officer Association, Sheriff Of The Year for 2013 by my colleagues.
My favorite book is: My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir. The book spans the life of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from childhood in the Deep South being raised by his grandfather to his nomination as the second black justice to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court
My favorite TV show is: South Park, love its political incorrectness.
My favorite movie is: War Horse
My favorite childhood memory is: Going with my dad to watch him skydive
The person I most admire is: My Dad, David A. Clarke Sr.
Three words people use to describe me are: Confident, Consistent, Straightforward
The worst job I had as a teenager: I was raised to believe that no job is bad
The food I like best is: Italian especially cream sauce dishes
My favorite hobby is: Reading for knowledge
My goals for the year are: To be better at what I do today than I was yesterday…continually pursuing excellence
My favorite music group is: Country singer George Strait
My pet: Two of them, my Rottweiler Zoo-kess and my horse Ranger.
My favorite vacation place: Ixtapa, Mexico
