Community members, police take part in Unity March honoring fallen officer

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The City of Milwaukee is in mourning, still coming to grips with the shooting death of a longtime police officer.

A Unity March took place on Thursday evening to honor the fallen officer. 

"The Milwaukee Police Department is part of the community and the community is part of the Milwaukee Police Department," Chief Alfonso Morales with the Milwaukee Police Department said.

Neighbors embraced officers, scriptures were read, and the community mourned.

"I grieved. I talked to my wife. I had a restless night last night and I'm like honey this is crazy, what can we do?" said Pastor Marlon Lock, Faith Walk organizer.

Officer Michael Michalski's death is a tragic reminder of the risk that police officers take every time they put on the badge. 

"You just don't know. You just don't know. There is no such thing as a 'routine' traffic stop," said Robert Willis, Police Trainer. 

Officer Michalski put in 17 years on the force. He was a family man, leaving behind a wife and three sons. Also a brother, not only to his fellow officers but to all emergency responders in the city.

"It touches everybody. It makes you think about your mortality a little bit and we are families," said Chief Mark Rohlfing with the Milwaukee Fire Department.

A moment of silence was held at the start of the Fire and Police Commision meeting.

"From all accounts, this is a well-loved, well-liked officer. Everybody who knew him had nothing bad to say about him. For someone like that to be struck down is devastating," said Willis.

Nothing will bring him back but the community can walk together.

"We're not walking ahead of the Milwaukee Police Department. We're not walking behind the Milwaukee Police Department. We're walking beside the police department," said Lock during the Unity March.

A community vigil is planned for Monday.