Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office Allegations
Key Issues from MCSO

​

What the records described:

As reported, there are two categories of allegations exam cheating and sexual harassment along with other lawsuits to prevent release of records and against former Sheriff David Clarke for discrimination:
 

Exam-cheating allegation (2006 internal review):

• Allegation that Nelson cheated by using notes during a law-enforcement test.

• Reporting says witnesses supported the allegation, while Nelson denied cheating.
   

Lawsuit against former Sheriff David Clarke:

• Urban Milwaukee reported that in 2013, Nelson, who is white, sued former sheriff David Clarke, who is Black, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation.

• Nelson argued he was passed up for promotion because he was white and that internal affairs cases against him were retaliation for his complaint about racial discrimination.
   

Sexual-harassment allegation:

• Urban Milwaukee reports a sexual harassment complaint was brought in 2011 by a woman working as a correctional officer for the sheriff’s office.

  • Used his position to get her private cell number and contacted her off duty by calls and texts​.

  • The complaint alleged that he initiated unwanted physical contact by pulling her into a hug and making the comment, “give big daddy a hug.”

  • Interviewed for a clerk position and stated he wanted her at the “first desk” so he could see his “baby girl."

  • She told investigators she became uncomfortable, felt uneasy about the situation, and came to believe Nelson wanted something in return for helping her get the job.

  • Nelson resigned in 2012 before the investigators could interview him about the harassment complaint.

Nelson was in a supervisory position over the woman, and she brought the complaints of bullying and harassment to him. Instead of reporting these complaints, Nelson tried to get her another position, “but she changed her mind at the last minute.” It was during this same period of time that the woman alleges he began sexually harassing her, including accusing her of dating another co-worker after declining to work directly below him. (Urban Milwaukee)

Lawsuit to prevent release of records

• ​Beginning in 2024, Nelson has filed several lawsuits attempting to block the release of these internal affairs case files that, according to the civil complaint filed by his attorneys, “could result in irreparable harm to Nelson’s reputation."