Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke stated on Monday that the number of law enforcement officers who are being killed in ambush assaults is “staggering,” and is likely growing due to certain criminal reform measures that are enabling career criminals to stay on the streets.advertisement — content continues below

“Sixty officers killed in ambush attacks in 2021,” Clarke went on to say during an interview on Newsmax’s “National Report.” “You’re looking at a 130% increase in assault ambushes on law enforcement officers. Those are staggering figures.”

The former sheriff’s remarks come just after a shooting in Mesquite, Texas where Officer Richard Houston, who served 21-years on the force, was killed while in the line of duty just outside of a local grocery store last Friday.advertisement — content continues below

via Newsmax:take our poll – story continues below

• Who would you vote for if the elections were held today?  

Clarke also commented that reform measures have weakened law enforcement because police officers are left to “second guess themselves.”

Further, over-aggressive and political prosecutions of officers for incidents in which they should not be held criminally liable is causing police to hesitate on the scene, which Clark said is “very deadly.”advertisement — content continues below

“There is a number of things that contribute to this, but the fact that this goes on tells me that the war on police is alive and well,” Clarke remarked.

The veteran lawmaker also spoke out about the smash-and-grab robberies that have been taking place across the nation and said he can’t believe police officers and business leaders aren’t forming task forces to fight back.

“What I would do is I’d get a combination of armed private security and off-duty law enforcement officers, armed in uniform,” the former sheriff stated. “You post them at the door, about a half dozen of these officers at the door. They’re armed with course, their sidearm, but they’re armed with pepper spray, they’re armed with tasers, they’re armed with collapsible batons or nightsticks. That would be a deterrent to these crews that come in. They’ll see it right at the door that this is not going to be tolerated.”

Clarke then said he doesn’t understand why there’s so much “hand-wringing” concerning this particular issue.

“There’s a lot to be done,” he commented. “It’s basic stuff. But you need a plan. And I would say you know what? Shame on the police. Leaders who haven’t gotten together with the business community, the Chambers of Commerce, and saying Hey, look, we’ve got an idea.”

Michael Cantrell