MPD Officer Peter Jerving remembered 2 years after on-duty death

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Feb. 7, 2023, Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving was killed in the line of duty. 

"One of the best advice I got when it first happened was 'take it a minute a time.' Take it 10 seconds at time. Because you don't think you can make it a day," said Megan Bradley, Jerving's girlfriend. "But you can make it 10 seconds. And that 10 second makes it a minute, and all of a sudden it's been an hour."

All those minutes and hours have now turned into two years for Peter Jerving's girlfriend, and for all the loved ones he left behind. 

It was just after 1 a.m. on Feb. 7, two years ago. Officer Jerving was chasing a 19-year-old robbery suspect. The chase led to a struggle, and shots were fired. Jerving was hit while saving the life of the officer he was training that night. 

Officer Jerving passed away at the age of 37.

The woman he planned on marrying and spending the rest of his life with, Megan Bradley, tells CBS 58 what kind of man we lost that day. 

"Probably the silliest guy I know. He was just always so happy. Always wanting to make people happy," said Bradley. "Always wanting to make people laugh. He was the biggest pain; I will tell you that. He was awesome. He was just a joy to be around. You couldn't help but smile when you were around him."

Bradley says she is still healing and getting better each day. She says the loss of Pete will never go away, but two years later, she says she does have more good days than bad days now.