Stay classy, Sheriff David Clarke…
Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. and members of his office were noticeably absent Wednesday from the 9-11 anniversary ceremony at the War Memorial Center — with one of Clarke’s sergeants a no-show despite being listed in the program.
Sgt. Brandy Lester of the sheriff’s office had participated last year and confirmed a week ago that she would come Wednesday, according to Brendan Conway, a spokesman for County Executive Chris Abele, but Lester was nowhere to be seen at the Wednesday morning ceremony.
“We don’t know why that was,” Conway said.
Ken Sternig of Milwaukee County Emergency Medical Services laid a wreath in place of Lester on behalf of first responders who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Conway said Clarke also was invited to the 9-11 ceremony last year and this year, but he didn’t come either time.
I sure hope the board doesn’t bend over backwards for him in the budget like they did last year…
I really don’t care that the Sheriff wasn’t there…he was invited…he didn’t respond…but the doctor’s excuse was lame…unless I have a sudden illness or injury…my appts are scheduled weeks in advance. What does bother me is the whole petty line of reasoning around the Sheriff’s honor guard…as a taxpayer and a citizen that is my honor guard too…which apparently still exists despite the supposed budget cuts:
“Conway said Abele’s office asked the sheriff’s honor guard to participate. The sheriff’s office declined. Instead, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Non-commissioned Officer Council sent its honor guard.
McLaughlin said, “Inspector Bailey responded to let them know he was happy to hear that the airport honor guard would be there, and our agency would not then be scheduling anyone to participate.”
She added that the county executive removed funding for the honor guard in the 2012 budget.”