RACINE, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) - Teezers Bar reopened to the public on Friday for the first time since the fatal shooting on June 17.

Police Officer John Hetland was shot and killed after trying to intervene in an attempted armed robbery. Officer Hetland was off-duty at the time he was killed.

On Friday, bar patrons came together to pay tribute to the sacrifice Officer Hetland made and to support staff at Teezers still struggling to cope with what happened. Customers like Donna Noel say it was important to come out. 

“It is a lot for anybody to go through, and I am sure the bartenders and people that are here are still having nightmares and things like that. It is very difficult to get through something like this,” ​says Noel. 

The bar installed a permanent memorial plaque on Friday with Officer Hetland's badge number above the bar. A memorial tribute wall also remains outside of Teezers Bar.