February 6, 2019 – In Breaking News – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Police Department is in mourning for the third time in less than a year after an officer was shot and killed Wednesday morning.
Matthew Rittner, a 17-year department veteran, was with a team of officers serving a search warrant in an investigation of illegal gun and drug sales, Chief Alfonso Morales said late Wednesday.
Officers repeatedly announced themselves as police and when the officers tried to breach the door, the suspect fired several shots, Morales said.
(Officer Matthew Rittner was killed Wednesday morning. He was a 17-year MPD veteran, …. courtesy of TODAY’S TMJ4 and YouTube. Posted on Feb 6, 2019.)
Morales confirmed the suspect is Jordan P. Fricke, 26, and said officers showed “tremendous” restraint when arresting him at the scene.
One other person was taken into custody, but officials did not release any further information about that arrest.
Fricke was the target of the search warrant being served by the Tactical Enforcement Unit, Morales said.
The 35-year-old Rittner had been a member of the unit for 10 years and also was a combat veteran who served in Iraq. He was married with a young son.
“He was an extremely courageous professional, human being, again who served our country, who served this community, with great pride,” Morales said.
“Again, we lost a great person, a great human being, a true professional and we’re going to miss him.”
(Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales discusses the timeline of the death of Officer Matthew Rittner. Courtesy of TODAY’S TMJ4 and YouTube. Posted on Feb 6, 2019.)
Mayor Tom Barrett asked residents to keep the officer’s family and the department in their thoughts.
“This is a very, very, very difficult time for our city, for the Milwaukee Police Department, obviously for the family that’s been affected and we ask for your prayers at this time,” Barrett said.
Fricke has a slew of prior traffic-related offenses, including drunken driving, but no prior misdemeanor or felony criminal cases as an adult, according to available online state court records.
— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) February 7, 2019
Continue reading… Milwaukee police mourning for third time in less than a year after officer Matthew Rittner killed
For those wishing to donate to Officer Rittner’s family, this Go Fund Me page has been vetted by the Milwaukee Police Department.https://t.co/ybgcWlWJMv
— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) February 10, 2019
Editor’s note: Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer Rittner, and all of the men and women who served with him. Thank you Sir for your bravery in serving our Nation, and your pride and distinction in serving the citizens of Milwaukee. You will not be forgotten.
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