Observing National Police Week in Western Wisconsin
VIROQUA, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Several police departments gathered to memorialize their own at the annual Vernon County Police Memorial Service. Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson says it's essential to recognize officers who have given their lives in the line of duty, both here and across the country. 'They gave their lives serving our communities, keeping us safe, serving, protecting. The very least we can do is say thank you for your service. Especially to those that were unable to come home to their loved ones.'
Retired Chief of Police Christian Malanka spent over 20 years with the Austin, Texas, police department. In that time, he saw eight officers lose their lives in the line of duty. He says no matter the department's size, every department is a family and every one of the officers is a valued member of that family. 'Some were murdered. Some died in pursuits or responding to emergencies. Although Austin, Texas, at the time had between 1,200 and 1,400 officers, I knew every one of those officers. It reinforces the fact that we are an extended family, and we feel a great deal of pain when we lose somebody in our family.'
Sheriff Torgerson hopes that people who attended remember the sacrifices that some officers had to make, 'I hope that their eyes were opened when we read off the numbers of the officers killed across the nation, 165 last year. When they leave here, I think they're going to have a new appreciation for those selfless sacrifices that are made each and every day.'
The names of every active-duty Wisconsin officer who has lost their lives since 2024 were mentioned in the ceremony, including the three Vernon County officers who have lost their lives since 1953: Viroqua police officer Curtis Starry, Viola Police Chief Michael Cook, and Vernon County Deputy Sheriff Bobby Dickson.
Other departments in the western Wisconsin community also remembered their fallen officers, including Chetek police officer Emily Breidenbach, Cameron police officer Hunter Scheel, and St. Croix County Sheriff's Deputy Kaitie Leising. All three were killed in the line of duty in the spring of 2023. Their names have been engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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