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Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Thursday, September 27, 2007

Judge rules religious presentations violated deputies’ rights

By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. promoted religion when he invited a Christian group to speak to deputies, according to a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman decided Tuesday that the presentations violated the U.S. Constitution’s clause barring governments from promoting a religion.

“These presentations amounted to religious proselytizing,” Adelman wrote. “The effect of the defendants’ actions was to promote religion and to do so coercively.”

Elmbrook Church members formed the Fellowship of Christian Centurions last year and invited law enforcement officers to join as a way of dealing with stress. Clarke invited the group to make a presentation at a conference, and its members later spoke at roll call, which deputies are required to attend, Adelman said in his decision.

A Catholic and a Muslim deputy objected, but Clarke continued to allow the presentations, the judge’s order said. Adelman scheduled a Nov. 6 hearing to discuss remedies for the violation.

Clarke said Wednesday that he would appeal the ruling. He described the fellowship as a voluntary support group. Law enforcement officers often “hold stuff in” when they encounter stress on the job and do not reach out for help, he said.

“I try to do everything I can to help cops,” Clarke said.

Roy Felber, president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, said no one should be forced to listen to a religious message at work, and letting one group make a presentation could open the door to others.

The union official said he wished the issue could have been solved short of a lawsuit.

“I wish we could sit down and talk,” he said. “Unfortunately, the only way we can communicate with the sheriff is through the courts. It’s not productive for him or us.”