Event honors law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty

MADISON, Wis. (WEAU) - Four names have been added to the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial today. Three of them are from Western Wisconsin.

“It’s really important for us, because it’s a Wisconsin tragedy that we’re recognizing. Each time there’s a name read, each time the bell tolls, there’s a family behind that name,” said St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson.

Emily Breidenbach and Hunter Scheel were killed during a traffic stop in the Village of Cameron on April 8, 2023.

May 6th, Deputy Katie Leising was investigating a driver for possible impairment near Glenwood City and was going to administer field sobriety tests when the suspect shot and killed her.

“Katie was a person that loved the out doors, loved life and loved her family. That was part of Katie, this other part was this law enforcement part,” said Sheriff Knudson.

“I want everybody to remember Hunter for his excellent work ethic. His laugh, if you knew him. His sister said it best. It’s a cackle. Grown up to be a fine young man,” said Chief Adam Steffen with Cameron Police Department.

{CHIEF RON AMBROZAITIS///CHETEK POLICE DEPARTMENT 1:25 - 1:30}

“The last year has been a struggle for our whole department. Emily was not just a coworker. We’re a really small department. She was a very good friend,” said Chief Ron Ambrozaitis, with the Chetek Police Department.

It was an undoubtedly tough year, with each Wisconsin brother and sister in blue having each other to lean on.

“It’s a humble feeling. There’s a lot of officers on that wall unfortunately. There’s actually officers I see that I’ve known from the past,” said Chief Ambrozaitis.

“To be down here and see those names on that wall is just really cool. I mean, it’s going to be there forever,” said Chief Steffen.

“That’s our goal. It’s to get everybody through the storm. We’ll never get off the water, but through the storm,” said Sheriff Knudson.

The next stop is Washington D.C. where the officers will be honored as part of National Police Week over the weekend.

MADISON, Wis. (WEAU) - Three local officers killed in the line of duty will be honored at a memorial ceremony at the Capitol today.

A news release from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial, Inc. announced that the 34th Annual Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony will be held at noon on May 10 at the WLEM Memorial Site on the State Capitol Grounds. The event is part of National Police Week activities.

The event includes a squad procession from Olin-Turville Park to the Memorial.

The 2024 honor roll will include four names which will officially be added to the Memorial, bringing the total number of names to 293.

Chetek Police Department Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Department Officer Hunter Scheel will be among those honored. They were on a traffic stop with the subject of a welfare check who also had an active warrant. The subject opened fire on the officers. Both officers were killed.

St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kaitlin Leising will also be added to the memorial. She was investigating a driver for possible impairment and was going to administer field sobriety tests when the suspect drew a gun. The suspect shot and killed Leising.

Ceremony speakers will include Wisconsin Concerns of Police Survivor Representative Scott Zylka and Marinette County Sheriff Randy Miller. The Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School Band, Cameron High School Band and the Greater Milwaukee Fire and Police Pipes and Drums will be performing.

There will be a luncheon after the ceremony at the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field.

Members of Beloit Police Department, Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Two Rivers Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin State Patrol Honor Guard Units have been posting guards at the Memorial site since sunrise.

Two law enforcement guards will continually circle the Memorial until noon. This echoes the military guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington, Virginia.

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