MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) The Milwaukee County’s medical examiner says he was threatened by the county sheriff while investigating two jail deaths.
Medical Examiner Brian Peterson tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Sheriff David Clarke wanted him to keep quiet about two jail deaths. The newspaper quotes Peterson who says Clarke berated him for 20 minutes on the phone for speaking-up about the deaths. Peterson says Clarke threatened to go after his medical license.
Peterson told the newspaper, “I haven’t been talked to like that since I was five.” He described the conversation as a “verbal pummeling”. Peterson documented the phone call in a letter to Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.
Clarke’s office says the Sheriff didn’t threaten anyone. A high ranking deputy says Clarke recorded the phone call for proof. A reporter asked Clarke to make the recording public; Clarke has not done so.
The MetroSource news wire contributed to this report.
