Sheriff Clarke, Chris Abele square off over federal grant money

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele squared off again. Instead of dueling news conferences, they went face-to-face Wednesday, May 23rd.

Sheriff Clarke showed up at a listening session on Milwaukee's northwest side to ask questions of Abele. Sheriff Clarke is upset that his office isn't getting any money this year from a federal justice assistance grant - money the sheriff normally uses to offset jail costs.

Abele said he's had to make choices with the money, and he's using it to fund community prosecutors in the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

"Frankly, in an ideal world, we all come into a County that doesn't start with $1 billion in long-term debt and a big structural deficit, but we're not in an ideal world and I'm not complaining. I knew that when we got in. We all have our challenges and we do what we can," Abele said.

Sheriff Clarke says he wasn't informed he wasn't getting the grant money and takes issue with that lack of communication. That set off an argument between the sheriff and Abele spokesman Brendan Conway, who says the sheriff was informed.

"It's hard to lobby when the county executive never gives us a heads up as to what he's going to do. Once its in ink, like the budget last year- gone to print - it's too late to lobby.  I'm not stupid," Sheriff Clarke said.

In year's past, Sheriff Clarke has received anywhere from $115,000 to more than $1 million from this federal grant.

Abele says the pool of money was smaller this year, receiving about $200,000 less from the federal government.