Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke said he has “no problem” using deadly force against looters in the aftermath of natural disasters.
“I have no sympathy whatsoever for looters. I can’t think of anything more disgusting than to take advantage of people when they are in a vulnerable situation,” he told FOX Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.
Looters went after abandoned homes and property in Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey forced thousands of people to seek refuge in shelters. And now, with Hurricane Irma, criminals began looting in the Caribbean island of St. Martin after the storm passed through.
“You are going to need the citizens that stayed behind to help you protect some of that property. I have no problem with using deadly force against looters. Look we can sit up here and say, ‘It’s just a little property, it’s just a little looting, so what?’ Well I don’t feel that way in these situations and once order is restored and the state of emergency is lifted then we go back to our normal situation, which will be that you can’t use deadly force against property, but I think [in a] state of emergency, all bets are off,” he said.
Since retiring from law enforcement Clarke has taken on a new role as spokesperson and senior advisor to America First Action—a pro-Trump political action committee.
Discussing his new position, Clarke said those helping the president outside the White House will have a “huge” impact.
“You have to have an inside army and you have to have an outside army. You have to have a two-front situation to deal with this resistance and when you’re on the inside, this is always the discussion with me. Where could I best serve this administration and this president? On the inside or on the outside?” he said.
Of course, ultimately he decided he could be of greater service on the outside.