MILWAUKEE — Since Milwaukee police officer Peter Jerving’s death, multiple businesses and organizations across the city have started fundraising initiatives to help the Jerving family.
Ultimate Confections in Wauwatosa is selling chocolate police badges to support during this time.
The badges are $2 a piece and all proceeds will be donated to the Milwaukee Police Association’s Fallen Officers fund. Owner Pat Murphy started this fundraiser four years ago after the death of Milwaukee officer Matthew Rittner.
“Here we are again with an unfortunate incident that has caused awareness to rise for what the officers have to do every day when they put on their badge and uniforms and go to work,” said Murphy.
Since then, he’s kept the fundraising initiative going.
“We thought well this is a worthy cause,” said Murphy. “We certainly don’t need to stop. They don’t stop policing for the good citizens of the Milwaukee area.”
People are able to buy the badges year-round. Since starting the initiative, they’ve been able to donate thousands of dollars to the fund.
Vice President of the Milwaukee Police Association, Alexander Ayala, said the proceeds from the chocolate badges will go directly to Jerving’s family.
“It’s been a very tough week,” said Ayala. “In the last 4 or 5 years, this is the fourth officer that gets shot and killed in the line of duty. The membership takes it very hard, the community takes it very hard.”
He said in all of those years, the Milwaukee community has really stepped up to show support.
“We don’t have the luxury to stop and mourn like normal people would be able to,” said Ayala. “We still have to keep the city safe. We still have to go out there and work.”
He said community support moving forward will be important.
“This doesn’t end next week, a month from now or a year from now,” said Ayala. “We’re always going to be hurting.”
Murphy said his thoughts are with the department at this time. He encourages them to keep pushing forward.
“I can’t say enough how sorry we are from the Milwaukee Police Department and the family of officer Jerving,” said Murphy. “All I could say is, please keep it up. If you are planning to join the force, please do so. The silent majority has your back.”
If you’d like to make a donation to the Fallen Heroes Fund, visit https://milwaukeefallenheroesinc.com/fallen-heroes-funds/.