Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission official resigns, urges leaders to prepare staff for DNC

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission is now missing a longtime member who resigned abruptly, and with his resignation came a warning that the City Police Force is not prepared for the DNC.

Clifton Crump sent a letter to city leaders last week saying he hopes abruptly walking away after 20 years helps them realize the urgency of the city's problems.

City leaders say a longtime fixture of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission resigning adds to the problems of an already struggling agency.

"I'm personally disappointed," said Milwaukee Alderman Mark Borkowski. "I consider Clifton a friend, and he leaves with a lot of institutional knowledge. It does put us in a huge lurch."

Crump says he was a scapegoat for many of the commission's problems, including being "understaffed and overwhelmed to meet looming deadlines for vacancies associated with the Democratic National Convention."

Alderman Bob Donovan says his biggest concern about the DNC is a large number of longtime leadership vacancies in the police department. 

"You've got to have people on the ground, and those typically would be the lieutenants calling the shots at any given time at the scene," he said. 

Mayor Barrett is responsible for appointing commissioners that the council confirms. His office did not comment on the story.