Community grieves loss of Big Bend Police Chief Donald Gaglione

 

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A community is grieving the loss of their police chief on Thursday, Nov. 9. 

Big Bend's Donald Gaglione died suddenly last month. His family was joined by police officers across the state for a sad goodbye this afternoon in Brookfield. 

Those who knew Chief Gaglione called him a man of his word. Sorrow is extending far beyond his Big Bend police force. 

Sunshine greeted a crowd outside Elmbrook church Thursday, as the American-flag-draped casket of Chief Gaglione made its way outside. But in the hearts of the crowd, it was a dark day.

"It's just very, very hard because we're gonna miss him so much," said Big Bend police officer Nate Schweitzer.

 The Big Bend police force without their leader now, are comforting each other.

"They're at a loss right now, but they'll get through it one day at a time. They're a strong bunch. They pull together. So, they'll, they'll get through it," said Cheryl Kaye, mother of a Big Bend police officer. 

Gaglione became Big Bend's Chief in 2014. Before that, he served 32 years with Milwaukee police. Faces that he's known through the years showed up for his family on this difficult day. 

"The outpouring of all the law enforcement was just incredible. There must've been 100 squad cars," said Steve Bandt, a friend of Gaglione. 

As family, friends, and community members outside the church looked on, and end of watch broadcast ended memorial services. 

"We're here today not just because we like him and not because we respect him, but you know we loved him. He was just, he was more than a boss," said officer Schweitzer.

"There are those many that Don never knew loved him that did love him," said community member Sadie Soneberg. 

This has been an especially difficult season for the Big Bend Police Force. The village had been considering disbanding it, and the chief fought hard to keep it intact. Family told us that the chief took a leave of absence two days before his death. They are awaiting the results of an autopsy to learn for sure what happened. 

"A big part of today too is learning that we really need to watch each other, that this job is so stressful," said officer Schweitzer. 

Just this week, what Chief Gaglione was fighting for happened. The Big Bend Professional Police Association announced the village board tentatively approved the police budget, allowing the police department to remain open with no changes.