As the Milwaukee Police Department mourns the loss of officer Matthew Rittner so are law enforcement agencies around the state.
“We always hope that that day, that time will never befall our own agency, our own inner-sanctum,” said Mike Koval, Chief of the Madison Police Department.
It's the third time in eight months the Milwaukee Police Department had an officer killed while working.
“It is with a very deep and abiding heavy heart that I see Milwaukee now is laboring under this incredible emotional toll, and this sense of despair and loss,” Koval said.
The news leaves a heavy heart for police officers around the state.
“Anytime we hear that it's tragic, it chokes me up,” said Stuart Zuehls, a community policing coordinator with the Neenah Police Department.
Zuehls has worked with some Milwaukee police officers in SWAT trainings. He recognized Milwaukee's SWAT unit for safely taking the suspect safely into custody after.
“That says a lot for once again the professionalism and the training that Milwaukee Police Department and once their specialized tactical swat unit has for actually taking the suspect into custody,” Zuehls said.
Also in the Fox Valley the news has been difficult for Grand Chute Police.
“It's something that's felt throughout law enforcement, it weighs on our hearts and minds and our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends at the Milwaukee Police Department,” said Travis Waas, a community resource officer with the Grand Chute Police Department.
The outpour came in from around the state on social media Wednesday. Police departments from Superior, Wasau, Onalaska and several others around Wisconsin sending messages of support and prayers on Facebook and Twitter
Several agencies, like Madison Police, plan on sending representatives to the funeral and wearing black bands over their badges as a show of mourning until Officer Rittner is burred.
“It pains my heart that Milwaukee has had to show us how to comport ourselves, how to grieve how to mourn and how to re-affirm that the work that his officer is doing is not done in vain,” Koval said.