Concordia University Wisconsin alumnus and Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. has received the Law Enforcement Leaders of the Year Award, an honor bestowed by the Federal Law Enforcement Office Association (FLEOA) Foundation.

The FLEOA is a non-profit, non-partisan professional association that represents more than 25,000 federal law enforcement officers from over 65 different agencies nationwide. Among other functions, it works with agency heads, administration officials, and legislators to represent, protect and advocate for issues important to federal law enforcement officers and to offer financial support to the families of injured federal officers.

In 1999, Clarke received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Management of Criminal Justice from Concordia’s School of Adult and Continuing Education.

In a statement from the sheriff’s office, published by CBS 58, Clarke remarked on the award:

“I am both humbled and honored to receive this award and designation from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. I have been on a mission to defend American law enforcement officers nationwide against the slander and unfair maligning of their character, integrity, service and sacrifice.

Attacks from cop-hating and anti-police groups have done great damage to this proud profession. This is causing law enforcement officers to be less assertive in defending the rule of law and maintaining order in poor, minority communities who depend on police the most.

I want to thank the FLEOA, and I accept this award on behalf of every person who wears the uniform of their law enforcement agency and goes out every day to serve and protect all citizens.”