Full Notification

On Friday, May 10, 2019, the 29th 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 calendar week which encompasses May 15. National Police Week 2019 is May 12 until May 18.

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 two names will be officially added to the Memorial, bringing the total amount of Wisconsin law enforcement officers listed on the Memorial to 279. Both officers are from the Milwaukee Police Department.

On June 7, 2018, Officer Charles G. Irvine, Jr. was killed in a single vehicle crash while pursuing another vehicle. Officer Irvine was a passenger in the vehicle, when his patrol vehicle left the roadway and collided with a support wall.

On July 25, 2018, Officer Michael J. Michalski, was part of a team searching for a suspect wanted on a parole violation. As Officer Michalski climbed a staircase, the suspect who had hidden himself, fired on officers, fatally wounding Officer Michalski.

Ceremony speakers include Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, and Everest Metropolitan Police Chief Clayton Schulz. The Milwaukee Police Band will be performing during the ceremony.

Additionally, members of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Green Bay Police Department, Menomonee Falls Police Department, Milwaukee Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Two Rivers Police Department, 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.