Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke says simply calling 911 won't do, asks residents to get guns [AUDIO]

Sheriff Clarke says he can't do the job he was elected to do, so residents should arm themselves instead.

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is raising eyebrows with a new radio spot in which he tells residents "simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option" and asks them to "consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there."

SEE ALSO: Guns make you safer? Minneapolis gun permit holder robbed with own pistol

Wild Weird Wisconsin, indeed.

Here's a transcript of the radio spot, followed by the audio:

I'm Sheriff David Clarke and I want to talk to you about something personal -- your safety. It's no longer a spectator sport, I need you in the game. But are you ready? With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back. But are you prepared? Consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there. You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. We're partners now -- can I count on you?

[Narrator] This safety message brought to you by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.

Arguments about whether guns make private citizens safer in the first place aside, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele told WISN TV that he has no idea what Clarke is talking about when he speaks of layoffs and furloughs.

The sheriff's department has "great leadership, and they're very effective, and I don't think creating the impression that there is less safety than is actually the case is ever good public policy," Abele said.

A spokesman for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said, "Apparently, Sheriff David Clarke is auditioning for the next Dirty Harry movie." And Clarke's message was even panned by Rob Felber, president of the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs' Association, who said: "That doesn't sound smart. That's why society has police officers."

As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, this isn't the first time in recent months Clarke has created controversy with his mouth -- like Andy Parrish, he called for schools to arm teachers in the wake of the Newtown school shooting.