Preaching to Police

"Unfortunately, we live in an era where some people will make even God the enemy."
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke (1)

Our Sheriff made this remark after a panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by US District Judge Lyun Adelman that Clarke's invitation to the Fellowship of the Christian Centurions to address mandatory roll-calls of deputy sheriffs was unconstitutional. The Centurions spoke at 18 roll-calls plus the department's leadership conference in May of 2006.

Among topics discussed by the Centurions was "how officers could impact others for Christ." One speaker contended that "God established government, and people in authority are ministers of God assigned to promote good and punish evil." (2) The case was brought by the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs Association on behalf of two officers who objected to the programs. Judge Adelman ruled that the Centurion presentations "amounted to religious proselytizing," and the Seventh Circuit agreed.

The quotation cited above indicates that Clarke did not even understand the issue before the courts. If, for example, some future sheriff would invite Richard Dawkins (3) to lecture deputies on behalf of atheism at mandatory assemblies, Clarke might expect the "enemies of God" to support the lecture, since Dawkins is clearly on their side. But the truth is that those who brought the suit, and those who support the suit (such as your blogger), are not "enemies of God" and would consider making deputies listen to Dawkins every bit as wrong as subjecting them to the sermons of the Christian Centurions. Lectures on religion, whether pro or con, are equally violative of the First Amendment and the rights of public employees.

This controversy is especially important now, since Clarke is well-positioned to make a serious bid for Mayor of Milwaukee if Tom Barrett is elected Governor of Wisconsin. Clarke, a former p0lice captain who was appointed Sheriff of Milwaukee County in 2002 by Republican Acting Governor Scott McCallum, won the Democratic primary for the job that year and again in 2006. He was easily elected on the Democratic ticket both times. (4) He came in third in the primary for Mayor in 2004, behind Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt and Barrett. There is every reason to believe he still wants to be Mayor, and would jump at the chance to run again if Barrett were out of the picture. He would probably be the only candidate with a county-wide constituency and big name-recognition. (5)

In the less likely event that Scott Walker becomes Governor, Clarke might seek to become County Executive. However, he would probably face tough competition from County Clerk Joe Czarnezki, a former state senator who finished second to Tom Ament for that position in 1992.

It is bad enough that Clarke is notorious for abusing the rights of deputies. But those who treasure the separation of church and state have another, even more important reason, for opposing this man's ambitions for higher elective office.
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(1) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 3, 2009, page 3B.

(2) But what if the government itself is evil? In that case, of which there are numerous examples (both past and present), police officers are the instruments of evil, not good. The complete text of the sermon was not available, so I do not know if the question of how a God-fearing person should respond to the orders of an evil government was addressed.

(3) British biologist, author of "The God Delusion" (2006).

(4) Democratic nominees for Milwaukee County partisan offices have won every time for over 50 years. Republican Scott Walker was elected County Executive only because the office is non-partisan.

(5) Ald. Willie Hines would become Acting Mayor if Barrett left office. Ald. Michael Murphy would also be a serious contender.