Off-duty officer shot while stopping robbery honored with mayoral proclamation
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee police detective, who was shot when he was off-duty and tried to stop a robbery, was honored with a mayoral proclamation.
Detective Andy Wilkiewicz was shot multiple times inside Shake Shack on Jan. 13, when a suspect tried to carjack and rob a woman.
Det. Wilkiewicz received the mayoral proclamation on Friday, Feb. 4. It's the highest honor a mayor can present to someone.
"I, Cavalier Johnson, mayor of the city of Milwaukee, do hereby proclaim Friday, Feb. 4, 2022 to be Andrew Wilkiewicz Day throughout the entire city of Milwaukee," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson at the ceremony. "Andy displayed all the courage we expect police officers to do. To stand up, to protect and serve when it's needed the most."
Det. Wilkiewicz was shot multiple times inside Shake Shack when he intervened in a robbery and carjacking. As he lay injured, Det. Wilkiewicz recited the suspect's license plate over and over, leading to the quick arrest of the suspects.
"It was reaction and training," Det. Wilkiewicz said, adding that he wanted people to hear the license plate number in case he lost consciousness before police arrived.
He was humble in accepting the honor.
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Det. Wilkiewicz was one of three Milwaukee-area law enforcement officers who were shot and injured in January. Nationwide, violence against police is up.
"It just shows you there are men and women out there that are still at the risk of their own lives, willing to go out there and do their job," Det. Wilkiewicz said. "An overwhelming majority of police officers do it and do it the right way."
Though he is still recovering from his injuries, Det. Wilkiewicz is anxious to get back to work.
"I don't plan on quitting," Det. Wilkiewicz said. "That's why I did what I did there. I don't appreciate people who come out and terrorize the city. That's my job, catch the bad guys and put them in jail, that's what I'm going to continue to do."