MILWAUKEE — After two police officers were shot and killed late Saturday in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association joined the departments in Chetek and Cameron in grieving, while also renewing calls for more resources from the State of Wisconsin for law enforcement departments statewide.

“I think like many people, my heart sank,” said Jim Palmer, executive director of WPPA. “As the state’s largest law enforcement group, unfortunately, we have to encounter this from time to time — last year, fortunately, we didn’t have any officers that died in the line of duty, and as of [Sunday] we’ve now had three officers that have been killed in the line of duty already this year.”

Earlier this year, Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving was fatally shot in a gun battle with a robbery suspect. On Saturday, officers Emily Breidenbach and Hunter Scheel were killed during a traffic stop in Barron County.

Palmer said the tragedy has a ripple effect that extends well beyond the specific departments involved.

“It’s extraordinarily tragic, not only for the officers who work in Barron County and throughout the state, but for their loved ones as well,” Palmer said. “It represents the realization of everyone’s fear when they report to duty each day.”

Watch the full interview above.