Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee County Resigns

Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. —who rose to national prominence with his no-holds-barred conservative rhetoric — resigned his office Thursday. 

Clarke, who is in his fourth term, submitted a resignation letter to Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson on Thursday afternoon. The sheriff was attending the convention of the National Fraternal Order of Police in Nashville and could not be reached for comment. 

Craig Peterson, an adviser to Clarke, said the sheriff would be making an announcement about his future next week. 

Clarke is not expected to be headed to President Donald Trump's administration, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel .

Earlier this year, he was passed over for a job in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Clarke, a frequent surrogate for Trump during his successful 2016 campaign, also interviewed last year for a job in Trump's cabinet. 

Gov. Scott Walker will appoint Clarke's successor, but the process won't begin until the governor's office receives the sheriff's resignation letter.