Full Notification

On Friday, May 20, 2016, the 26th annual Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony will be held at noon at the memorial site located on the Capitol grounds in Madison, WI. The annual ceremony, honoring and remembering Wisconsin law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, is held in correlation with National Police Week activities. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 “National Peace Officer’s Memorial Day” and National Police Week as the week which encompasses May 15. National Police Week 2016 is May 15 until May 21.

There will be a squad procession involving officers from across Wisconsin that will leave Olin Park at 11:15 AM and arrive at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Olin Park is located off the Highway 12/18 beltline in Madison.

During this year’s ceremony four names will be officially added to the memorial, bringing the total amount of Wisconsin law enforcement officers listed on the memorial to 270. Two of those names are historical deaths; Racine County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Arthur G. Herman, on May 15, 1920, Deputy Herman was searching for an escapee from jail. Deputy Herman was going to a train station, when he lost control of his patrol motorcycle and collided with a street car. Deputy Herman was fatally injured in the crash. Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Earl R. Haslam, on December 29, 1928, Deputy Haslam was returning to headquarters after serving civil papers. Deputy Haslam lost control of his patrol motorcycle and collided with another vehicle. On January 4, 1929, Deputy Haslam succumbed to his injuries sustained in the crash.

The two recent deaths include; Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Trevor J. Casper, on March 24, 2015, Trooper Casper was attempting to apprehend a robbery and murder suspect, when he was fatally shot by the suspect. McFarland Police Department Officer Ryan P. Copeland, on November 23, 2015, Officer Copeland was operating his take home squad car enroute to pick up his K9 partner when an oncoming vehicle crossed the center line and struck his patrol squad head-on. Copeland was fatally injured in the crash.

Ceremony speakers include Attorney General Brad Schimel and Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Stephen Fitzgerald.

Additionally, members of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Green Bay Police Department, Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, Oak Creek Police Department, Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin State Patrol Honor Guards will post guards at the memorial site starting at sunrise. Similar to the military guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, two Law Enforcement Honor Guard members will continually encircle the memorial site from approximately 5:30 AM until the memorial ceremony at noon.

Additional information can be found at www.wlem.com or on Facebook @
Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial, Inc.