Wisconsin’s fallen law enforcement officers were honored Friday in Madison at the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial on the grounds of the state capitol.
During Friday’s ceremony, Gov. Scott Walker expressed his gratitude to the brave men and women in Wisconsin who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and laid down a wreath during the 26th Annual Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.
“We owe all Wisconsin law enforcement officers a debt of gratitude for protecting the citizens of our state from harm every day,” Gov. Walker said.
Risk is a constant companion for law enforcement in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. In 2015, there were 124 law enforcement fatalities in the United States, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
The memorial site outside Wisconsin's Capitol now lists the names of 270 fallen Wisconsin law enforcement officers.
Among the 270, the names of Racine County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Arthur G. Herman, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Earl R. Haslam, Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Trevor J. Casper, and McFarland Police Department Officer Ryan P. Copeland were added to the Memorial Friday.
Trooper Casper was also honored last week in Washington, D.C., where his name was engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Back in January, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel recognized national law enforcement appreciation day.
“On behalf of all of us at the (Wisconsin) Department of Justice, I am grateful to all of our law enforcement partners on this day, and every day, and I pray for their safe return home at the end of every shift,” Schimel said before a group of law enforcement officials.
As for the the men added to the Madison memorial Friday, many were from Southeast Wisconsin, according to Gov. Walker's office.
Deputy Arthur Herman died in the line of duty when he lost control of his patrol motorcycle while searching for an escapee from jail on May 15, 1920. Deputy Herman served with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office for approximately three months.
Deputy Earl Haslam died on January 4, 1929 due to injuries sustained in the line of duty on December 29, 1928. He lost control of his patrol motorcycle and collided with another vehicle after serving civil service papers. Deputy Haslam had served with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years.
Trooper Trevor Casper was shot and killed in Fond du Lac on March 24, 2015, while confronting a murder and bank robbery suspect. Trooper Casper graduated from the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy in December 2014.
Officer Ryan Copeland, a K-9 officer with the McFarland Police Department, died in the line of duty in an automobile accident on November 23, 2015. Officer Copeland joined the McFarland Police Department in 2013 following ten years of service in the United States Army, including seven years serving in the Special Forces as a Green Beret.
Meanwhile in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is inviting the public to attend the annual Law Enforcement Mass of Blessing celebrated by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, according to MPD Sgt. Tim Gauerke.
This year’s Mass will be held Monday, May 23 at 6:30 pm at the Basilica of St. Joseph at, 2333 S. 6th Street.
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn will be in attendance and members of the Milwaukee Police Department and several other local law enforcement agencies will participate in the Mass. The Archbishop will honor current law enforcement personnel, retirees, and their families.
