Crime & Safety

On Police Memorial Day, Brookfield PD Honors Fallen Comrades

During National Police Week, Brookfield Department takes time out from regular duties for a special one: remembering those who sacrificed all "so that others may live."

On a morning bathed in warm sunshine, the Brookfield Police Department carried out a solemn duty of remembrance Wednesday, honoring fallen comrades in law enforcement here and everywhere on Police Memorial Day.

With a brisk breeze blowing, the national flag waved and snapped as an honor guard raised it to the top of the center pole at the Brookfield Civic Plaza, then slowly, carefully drew it down to half-staff.

A wreath was formally presented in front of the plaza's law enforcement memorial, which on three towering stones reads:

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"They will be remembered – not for the way they died but for the way they lived."

"We honor the dead by serving the living."

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"Willing to sacrifice their lives so that others may live."

After remarks by Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto and an invocation and prayer, three rifle volleys rang out... "Taps" echoed its calming bugle call to rest... and as is tradition, a bagpiper keened "Amazing Grace" as benediction, turning to lead the honor guard from the field.

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"For the most part, we memorialize our comrades who have passed in the line of duty," said Brookfield Police Chief Dan Tushaus. "And I don't know one police officer who does not know somebody personally that died in the line of duty.

"I've known many of them over the years. I've been in this business for 37 years and I've known quite a few. I've known quite a few officers who had to take disability retirements because of injuries sustained in the line of duty."

Some of those latter hit home in Tushaus' memory – including one comrade felled in a gunfight in the 1980s.

"I think of Toby Tyler, who is sitting in a wheelchair to this day, disabled from the injuries sustained in that shootout," Tushaus said. "He was a sergeant with the City of Brookfield. It's on days like this that we remember people like him as well.

"It's on these days when we remember their sacrifice for their fellow officers, and for the people we serve, and for our communities."


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