MADISON — Rep. David Crowley honored fallen Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner on Thursday on the Assembly Floor.
Rittner was killed in the line of duty Feb. 6. On Thursday, he was honored as a First Responder of the Year.
Rittner was serving a high-risk warrant in Milwaukee when the suspect fired several rounds.
“Officer Rittner was struck and severely wounded, and eventually succumbed to his injury,” Crowley said in a news release.
Rittner was a 17-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department and was working with the Tactical Enforcement Unit. He had received multiple honors for his bravery and was well loved by his fellow officers.
“There are those among us who devote their lives to service of their fellow man; Officer Rittner was one such man,” Crowley said in the news release.
Rittner was also a U.S. Marine and served two tours in Iraq, helping train and mentor local police. According to Crowley, Rittner devoted his whole career to protecting Milwaukee and its residents.
“Officer Rittner paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to the citizens of Milwaukee, and for that reason I am proud to recognize him as First Responder of the Year... the city was better for having had him in it.”
