Phillip A. Clark
Phillip Clark, Wisconsin's first African American state trooper, was born in Steelton, Pennsylvania. After four years in the U.S. Air Force, Clark came to Milwaukee and entered the State Patrol Academy in 1962. One of 27 cadets in the Patrol's 11th Recruit Class, the 26-year-old Clark patrolled highways in southeast and south central WI. One of his first police cruisers was an American Motors "Rambler Nash." He was promoted to sergeant in 1972 and to lieutenant in 1974. After 18 years with the Patrol, Clark became Safety Director for the Medical College of WI, and in 1990, became the first black police chief for UW-Milwaukee – a position he held until his retirement in 2004. Among his many accomplishments, Clark helped pave the way for other minorities to pursue law enforcement careers. Clark passed away in 2015 at age 79.