City Pays Tribute to Fallen Officers

With a bugle call and Color Guard procession, the city of Brookfield Police Department honored fallen officers at an annual ceremony Monday morning as part of National Police Week.

"Today, we thank those who protect us through law enforcement," Mayor Steve Ponto said. "We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in that effort, and those families that they have left behind."

Police Chief Dan Tushaus attended the event, as did Pastor Cliff Cameron, of Victory International Fellowship Church in Brookfield, who offered a prayer.

Menomonee Falls Police Capt. Terry Hansen played the bugle as city employees and others watched the ceremony held in front of the city's own memorial, which reads in part "We honor the dead by serving the living." 

Ponto said that President John F. Kennedy in 1962 established May 15 as National Police Officers Memorial Day.

He said the names of nearly 19,000 law enforcement officers nationwide who have died in the line of duty are carved into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.

The wall includes a new name from Wisconsin: Fond du Lac Police Officer Craig Birkholz, Ponto said. "We remember him today and his widow," the mayor said.

Two Brookfield police officers — Sgt. Mark Tushaus and Officer Steve Toepfer — plan to use their vacation time to attend this week's ceremonies at the national memorial.

Ponto said: "On behalf of the residents of the City of Brookfield, I want to thank all the members of our Police Department for their efforts to serve and protect our community."