FOP Cream City Lodge #8 Stands With Officer Injured in Line of Duty.

On the morning of March 12, a member of the Milwaukee Police Department and a current member of FOP Cream City Lodge #8 was involved in a critical incident while attempting to take a wanted suspect into custody on Milwaukee’s south side.

According to information released by the Milwaukee Police Department, the officer and an agent with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections were attempting to check on a suspect wanted for a parole violation near 12th Street and Burnham Avenue. When the officer approached the vehicle and ordered the suspect to exit, the suspect refused.

As the officer attempted to remove the suspect from the vehicle, the suspect started the tow truck and fled. The officer remained standing on the exterior driver side step of the truck while holding onto the vehicle as it accelerated away.

During this extremely dangerous situation, the officer repeatedly ordered the suspect to stop the vehicle and warned that deadly force would be used if the suspect continued to drive. The suspect ignored those commands. While still on the exterior of the moving vehicle and facing an immediate threat to his life, the officer discharged his firearm, bringing the vehicle to a stop approximately a block later.

The suspect, a 35 year old male, died as a result of his injuries. The officer sustained non life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, with the West Allis Police Department serving as the lead investigative agency.

The officer involved in this incident is a current member of FOP Cream City Lodge #8. On behalf of our lodge and the entire Fraternal Order of Police family, we extend our full support to our brother officer who endured this traumatic and life threatening event.

Standing on the exterior of a moving vehicle while attempting to stop a fleeing suspect is an extraordinarily dangerous situation. This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the risks officers face every day while protecting the residents of Milwaukee.

These dangers are not theoretical. Milwaukee police officers regularly confront violent and unpredictable encounters in the line of duty. In 2023 alone, the Milwaukee Police Department documented more than 2,200 use of force incidents, demonstrating how often officers are forced to respond to dangerous and rapidly evolving situations while attempting to enforce the law.

At the same time, Milwaukee continues to struggle with serious violent crime. City data shows that homicides rose from 132 in 2024 to 142 in 2025, underscoring the continuing challenges facing our community.

Unfortunately, incidents like this also reflect a growing trend that many officers are witnessing on the streets. Criminals are becoming increasingly emboldened, and too often there is a lack of accountability within the justice system for repeat offenders. When individuals on supervision refuse lawful orders and choose to flee from police, they place officers and innocent members of the public in grave danger.

This tragic situation was entirely avoidable. When individuals choose to escalate encounters with law enforcement rather than comply with lawful commands, the consequences can be severe.

We wish our member a full and speedy recovery and stand ready to support him and his family in the days and weeks ahead.

Our thoughts are also with the officers, investigators, and all those affected by this incident as the investigation moves forward. FOP Cream City Lodge #8 will continue to stand with our member throughout this process.