Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke submitted a letter of resignation Thursday, effective at 11:59 p.m. “After almost 40 years serving the great people of Milwaukee County, I have chosen to retire to pursue other opportunities. I will have news about my next steps in the very near future," Clarke said in a written statement. In May, Clarke said he was resigning to take a position in the Department of Homeland Security. He later said he was not accepting the position, prompting County Executive Chris Abele to call for his resignation. Clarke responded by calling Abele a "little mouse."After the news of Clarke's resignation first came out, Abele, who has long disagreed with Clarke on many matters, tweeted a photo of President Barack Obama clapping.Abele told WISN 12 News Thursday that when he learned of Clarke's resignation he looked at it as a fresh start.Gov. Scott Walker issued a statement, saying he will "move forward with the process of filling the vacancy as soon as we are formally notified of the resignation by Milwaukee County. Our office will follow the same process that is used any time there is a sheriff vacancy in our state." When WISN 12 News emailed Clarke, we got an automated response that said: "Thank you for your interest in Sheriff Clarke's future plans. He has some exciting new projects to announce after the Labor Day holiday so please check back with us then."Clarke was in Nashville Thursday attending the Fraternal Order of Police convention. Inspector Richard Schmidt, the undersheriff, will become acting sheriff at midnight.Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 mobile app or with our email newsletters.

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke submitted a letter of resignation Thursday, effective at 11:59 p.m.

“After almost 40 years serving the great people of Milwaukee County, I have chosen to retire to pursue other opportunities. I will have news about my next steps in the very near future," Clarke said in a written statement.

In May, Clarke said he was resigning to take a position in the Department of Homeland Security. He later said he was not accepting the position, prompting County Executive Chris Abele to call for his resignation. Clarke responded by calling Abele a "little mouse."

After the news of Clarke's resignation first came out, Abele, who has long disagreed with Clarke on many matters, tweeted a photo of President Barack Obama clapping.

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Abele told WISN 12 News Thursday that when he learned of Clarke's resignation he looked at it as a fresh start.

Gov. Scott Walker issued a statement, saying he will "move forward with the process of filling the vacancy as soon as we are formally notified of the resignation by Milwaukee County. Our office will follow the same process that is used any time there is a sheriff vacancy in our state."

When WISN 12 News emailed Clarke, we got an automated response that said: "Thank you for your interest in Sheriff Clarke's future plans. He has some exciting new projects to announce after the Labor Day holiday so please check back with us then."

Clarke was in Nashville Thursday attending the Fraternal Order of Police convention.

Inspector Richard Schmidt, the undersheriff, will become acting sheriff at midnight.

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Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 mobile app or with our email newsletters.