MILWAUKEE — People said they’ve experienced a range of emotion after the shooting death of Milwaukee police officer Peter Jerving early Tuesday morning.

What You Need To Know

  • Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed in the line of duty early Tuesday morning

  • Jerving, 37, was a four year veteran of the force

  • A memorial outside of the District Four office has continued to grow

Those emotions range from sadness and grief to anger, which is how Jeanne Baier said she was feeling Wednesday afternoon. Baier drove to Milwaukee Police Department’s District Four precinct office just after noon on Wednesday to pay her respects.

“I came by, I stopped, I took a couple of pictures and then I went around the block and I said, ‘Oh I wish I had a cross,’ something I could leave behind,” Baier said. 

She went back to her car, because on the rearview mirror was a rosary and another prayer cross Baier said have been there for years.

“[I pray] every time before I start up my car that God is with me and will keep me safe on the road,” Baier said. 

At first, she didn’t think it was much, but she decided to take the prayer cross and tie it around the driver door handle of the police cruiser that has become a memorial Jerving. 

Because, like many in the area, she’s upset over what happened. 

“I’m so angry, and I never thought I’d be this angry,” Baier said. “Usually I can compose myself, but this? Just enough. It’s sad.”

The prayer on the cross the left behind is what she called a serenity prayer.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen,” the cross reads. 

The courage to change things is something Baier said the city of Milwaukee needs now more than ever. 

“I think this city, I believe the mayor and I would say the head of the police department, they’ve got to get more tough,” Baier said. “It’s got to get toughened up, not just a slap on the hand and ‘okay, go ahead.’”

Orlando Owens felt the same way. He’s a Republican politician who ran for Wisconsin State Treasurer last year. 

He stopped by during lunch. 

“It needs to get out that more people care and people are angry and frustrated,” Owens said. “We need more people who honestly are fed up with this whole situation man and don’t want to continue with things as status quo because it’s not… it’s not cool.”

Baier said she will continue to pray — for officer Jerving and his family, and for an end to violence across the city. 

“He’s young,” Baier said. “He should have had a chance.”

Related Stories