Marshfield Police Department Holds Peace Officer Memorial Day Ceremony
Friday, May 17th, 2019 -- 9:49 AM
(WDLB) -The Marshfield Police Department last night honored two current members of the force, the only member of the department ever killed on the job and two Wisconsin officers who died in the line of duty last year.The Marshfield Professional Police Association held its annual Peace Officer Memorial Day ceremony at Wildwood Park, to honor former Marshfield Police officer Fred Beell, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a burglary at the Marshfield Brewery on August 5th of 1933. The program also took time to remember the two Wisconsin police officers who died in 2018--Charles Irvine Junior and Michael John Michalski of the Milwaukee Police Department. They were among the 163 police officers who died in the line of duty last year, including 52 who were killed by gunfire. Marshfield Mayor Bob McManus read a proclamation declaring yesterday Peace Officer Memorial Day in the city of Marshfield. And he thanked officers on behalf of a grateful city.
Also last night, Police Chief Rick Gramza presented Travis Esser with the department's Fred Beell Honor Award for acts of bravery, when he defused a situation involving a man armed with a knife who was threatening probation, parole and social workers who had been sent to his home on Spruce Avenue in July of last year. The incident led to the arrest of 52-year-old Patrick Langreck, after Esser shot him with non-lethal bean bag rounds and released a K-9 officer. Also honored last night was Libby Abel, who received the department's "Officer of the Year" award.
Officer Abel joined the department in 2014. Marshfield Police Auxiliary Director Seth Stankowski was given the department's "Support Staff Member of the Year" award as well.
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