Auditors launch investigation into medical care of Milwaukee County Jail inmates
MILWAUKEE COUNTY -- Milwaukee County auditors have launched an investigation into the medical care being given to inmates at the Milwaukee County Jail and the House of Correction in Franklin. Details about this audit are coming out one day after County Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde, called for Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke's resignation because of four recent inmate deaths.
Milwaukee County Jail
The audit was called for the by chairman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. County Supervisor Theo Lipscomb says it was prompted, in part, by the four inmate deaths.
In just six months, Terrill Thomas, Michael Madden and Kristina Fiebrink, along with a newborn, died inside the Milwaukee County Jail -- all under different circumstances. However, one of them was ruled a homicide.
Milwaukee County Jail
On Thursday, December 1st, Supervisor Supreme Omokunde, called for Sheriff David Clarke's resignation before, "more people die" -- saying the sheriff has abdicated his responsibility to hold his officers accountable.
Supreme Moore Omokunde
Read his full statement:
“Something is terribly wrong at the Milwaukee County Jail, and Sheriff David Clarke needs to resign before more people die.
The simple fact that four deaths have occurred in a six month period under his watch demonstrates that Sheriff David Clarke is unfit to manage the Milwaukee County jail.
Media reports and the statements of witnesses indicate that at least three of the deaths appear to have occurred as a result of actions or inaction by Sheriff Clarke’s corrections officers. Yet not a single officer has been disciplined, and Sheriff Clarke remains silent. This is totally unacceptable.
Accountability starts at the top. Sheriff Clarke has failed to establish a culture of professionalism, has failed to call for independent investigations when warranted, and he has abdicated his responsibility to hold his officers accountable for their actions or lack of action. He should resign immediately.”
In response on Thursday, the sheriff fired back:
“Supervisor who? That sounds like some character in a science fiction comic book and he’s upset that I helped Donald J. Trump get elected POTUS.”Sheriff David Clarke speaks before republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during a rally at the KI Convention Center on October 17, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. / AFP / Tasos Katopodis (Photo credit should read TASOS KATOPODIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Investigators haven't said whether the actions of inaction of jail and medical staff contributed to any of the deaths. But the Milwaukee County Supervisor's chairman has requested an audit of Armor Medical Services' contract.
Armor, a Miami-based company, has contracted with the county since 2013 to provide medical auditors plan to investigate whether Armor correctional health services is meeting contract requirements and standards of medical care.
Also, FOX6 News received a copy of an email sent to the Milwaukee County Executive from Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, Brian Peterson, back in October. In it, Peterson claims Sheriff Clarke, "verbally pummeled him" about the information his office released related to the four inmate deaths.
We asked Sheriff Clarke for his response to the audit, we were told to refer to his statement from Thursday.
The county's safety subcommittee has scheduled a meeting on December 15th, asking the sheriff and the department to answer questions about the recent deaths.