MILWAUKEE — Law enforcement in Milwaukee County celebrated the lives of several officers and deputies who died in the line of duty over the years on Friday.

The Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony began with a procession from the Milwaukee War Memorial Center to the Wisconsin Center. This symbolized the journey each of five Milwaukee area law enforcement officers honored at this year’s ceremony that lost their lives in the line of duty.

Scott Zylka came for his father, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy Ralph Zylka. Ralph Zylka and fellow deputy Sung Hui Bang died in a helicopter crash in August 2000.

Scott Zylka said he is proud of who his father was.

“He was not just law enforcement, but he was also my father and it’s alway fun to think about the memories that I have of him and just joking around and harassing me like any normal good father would do is harass their son,” he said.

He also appreciates how law enforcement supported him through this tough time.

“It’s a real community,” he said. “It’s not just the family members that have lost someone, but it’s also the officers that have lost a brother and a sister and you really come together and honor their memory.”

Milwaukee Police Association President Andrew Wagner said the losses of officers Charles Irvine Jr., Michael Michalski and Peter Jerving are felt strongly within the city’s police department.

“We miss Charles Irvine’s smile, sharing funny jokes with him, and his personality to cheer others up when they were down. We miss Michael Michalski’s guidance,” Scott Zylka said. “We miss him as a role model on how to live and we miss him being here to see us through all of the tough time. We miss Peter Jerving’s friendship. His love of life.”

He lost his father when he was 13 years old. He said he never got to understand who exactly his father was as a person, but feels more connected to him than ever because of those who worked with him.

“I get a sense of, yep, that’s me, yep, that dry sense of humor,” Scott Zylka said. “That’s definitely me and it’s very fun to know that my dad and myself are very similar, so I miss my dad, but I kind of feel him in myself every day.”

He said he is thankful for every moment he got to spend with his father. On this day, he, along with other Milwaukee law enforcement and officials, are proud to honor these fallen officers for the heroes that they are.