Battle between Sheriff Clarke, Milwaukee Co. hits new heights
MILWAUKEE CO. — The budget battle between Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and County Executive Chris Abele hits new heights.
27 sheriff’s deputies were supposed to lose their jobs under the new county budget. But Sheriff Clarke refused to lay them off as part of the 2012 budget.
On Friday, a Milwaukee County judge decided to put this case off for a week — and therefore, the deputies will remain on the payroll.
The question being argued in court Friday — what power does the sheriff possess? The county says the sheriff is going beyond his constitutional rights by keeping the deputies on the payroll. The sheriff’s lawyers say Clarke has a duty to protect the community regardless of the cost.
The judge did rule Sheriff Clarke does not have unlimited power — the county does have the right to lay off deputies.
