Fallen officers remembered during annual Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee area law enforcement officials are taking a moment to pay tribute to the men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice for their communities.
The annual Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Ceremony was hosted at the Wisconsin Center on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
"It's unimaginable, right, to feel like that someone left for work one day and then didn't come back," Milwaukee Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner said.
Memorial wreaths were placed in memoriam of Police Officer Roger Sterling, Deputy Sheriff Sergio Aleman, Police Officer Jennifer Sebena and Police Officer Mark Lentz.
The names that fill the final roll call are also remembered.
“They may be fallen, but they will never be forgotten.”
— Gabriella Bachara (@GabbyBachara) May 5, 2022
Milwaukee area Law Enforcement officials are remembering the fallen men and women who gave their lives to protect our community. Full story on @CBS58 at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/Tp0v1WW1C3
"Having the families here with us is a constant reminder of what's at stake and what we leave behind," Waldner said.
For the officers who attend, the ceremony serves as a reminder that nothing is promised in their line of work, especially after recent incidents that almost took the lives of three different law enforcement officers.
"We all know entering this profession that we may not return home, but we do it because we swear an oath, we do it because we love our community, and we do it because, again, we want to keep people safe and do something for others," Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas said.
Waldner will step in as acting police chief while Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman memorializes a fallen officer in Washington D.C.
"It's still very hard for us to do, because we went a really long time, I think I had 23 years of my career, of never having to experience this, and then every year since the last three," Waldner said.
All of their memories are kept alive every day.
"Just makes you appreciate what you have a little bit more," Waldner said.