Deputy Schuh wasn't singled out, county says

Aug. 29 -- Five other deputies have community policing assignments similar to that of Deputy Michael Schuh, who was assigned to a solo foot patrol in one of the city's more dangerous neighborhoods, the county says.

The county, in federal court papers, did not identify the five or say when or where they were assigned.

In addition, the gag order Sheriff David Clarke's issued as he got a spate of bad press over the Schuh affair isn't a gag order at all -- it's just a restating of long-standing departmental policy, according to county lawyers.

The county made its contentions in its response to a federal court lawsuit filed by the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriff's Association and Schuh over Schuh's assignment. Clarke reassigned Schuh, a 55-year-old bailiff, to the one-man after he criticized the sheriff in a union newsletter. The suit alleges that Clarke violated Schuh's constitutional right to free speech by reassigning him in retaliation for writing the article in the union newsletter.

The county, though, said in its response to the suit that "Schuh s speech was not protected and did not relate to a matter of public concern but rather was a personal attack on the integrity of defendant Clarke."

The county also denied "any implication that Deputy Schuh was placed in any jeopardy and further aver that Schuh was a competent 15-year veteran of the Sheriff s Department and was at all times armed and equipped with all necessary equipment including radios within which to summon help if necessary."

The county also said that "Deputy Schuh did not require additional training to perform the assignment....Schuh had previously been assigned to the Patrol Division and was fully capable of carrying out the assignment without additional training."