RIVAL SAYS SHERIFF MISUSED FORFEITURES

Bohn Contends Clarke Misspent Drug Penalty Money On Billboards

Franklin Police Chief Ken Bohn said he will file complaints with five
county, state and federal agencies alleging that Milwaukee County Sheriff
David Clarke misused drug forfeiture dollars for political gain.

He expects to announce today his request that the Milwaukee County district
attorney's office, the Milwaukee County Ethics Board, the state attorney
general, the state Elections Board and the U.S. attorney's office all
investigate Clarke's use of the forfeiture money.

Bohn said he would do so even if he weren't trying to unseat Clarke during
the Nov. 5 general election for sheriff.

"I believe so strongly in trying to stop the abuses of a program that I
think is absolutely valuable to law enforcement that I'll take the risk of
it appearing political to preserve that program," he said.

Bohn questions Clarke's use of nearly $10,000 to buy his department's
Chevrolet Tahoe, which Bohn said the sheriff has used while campaigning, as
well as $2,000 spent on billboards about an identity theft awareness
campaign - that included Clarke's photograph - three weeks before the
September primary election.

A spokesman for Clarke's campaign called Bohn's concerns old news.

"We've been there and done that," said Michael A.I. Whitcomb. He said Bohn
is renewing "old, unfounded allegations that did not stick the first time
they were thrown up against the wall, so he's going to try it again to
obtain some free media mileage before the general election."

The money at issue is distributed to local law enforcement agencies by
federal officials based on assets seizures in illegal drug cases. The money
is supposed to be used for crime prevention, education and training but
cannot supplement items usually covered by tax dollars.

Bohn said that if his complaints protect the program, it will have been
worth the perception that they were politically motivated.

This is not, however, the first complaint alleging a problem with the drug
forfeiture fund. Cudahy Police Chief Mark Hayes, who lost to Clarke in the
Democratic primary Sept. 10, filed a similar complaint Aug. 26 with the
state Elections Board, the U.S. attorney's office and the Milwaukee County
Ethics Board.

In his letter, Hayes complained specifically about the billboards, quoting
guidelines of the asset forfeiture fund to say, " 'Non-Official Government
Use of Shared Assets - Any use that creates the appearance that shared
funds are being used for political or personal purposes is not permitted.'
Once again, your photo on a sign three weeks before an election has only
one purpose, THAT'S POLITICAL."

Clarke did not return phone calls seeking comment at his office or through
his scheduler. Instead, Whitcomb returned the call.

According to Whitcomb, the county's attorneys OK'd the use of the
forfeiture funds for Clarke's sport utility vehicle. He said the timing of
the billboards was something "the sheriff had absolutely no control over."