Names of the 2 Wisconsin police officers killed in Barron County traffic stop released; Cameron, Chetek communities mourn
Mourning community members gathered in northwestern Wisconsin Monday as a procession was held to honor two officers who were killed when a routine traffic stop turned into a shootout in the village of Cameron Saturday.
Officers from the Chetek and the Cameron police departments lined the streets as the bodies of the officers were transported from Barron County to Minnesota, where autopsies will take place, after which the bodies will be returned to Wisconsin.
Who were the officers?
The identities of the officers have been confirmed by family and friends as Emily Breidenbach, of the Chetek Police Department, and Hunter Scheel, of the Cameron Police Department.
According to the Department of Justice, Breidenbach was 32 years old and had served as a Chetek police officer for approximately five years, and Scheel was 23 and had been serving as a Cameron police officer for about a year.
According to the DOJ, Breidenbach started her law enforcement career with the Stoughton Police Department in Dane County. She served there for about nine months before she joined Chetek Police Department, where she had served for approximately four years.
Scheel graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy in December of 2022 and before that served six years in the Army National Guard.
Who was the shooter?
The DOJ identified the shooter as 50-year-old Glenn Douglas Perry, who was pulled over based on a warrant and welfare check after he had been reported for "concerning behavior."
Perry has been a defendant against a local or statewide entity on four different occasions, including two cases in 2020 where the state of Wisconsin found him guilty of disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier — neither of these offenses resulted in jail time.
A routine traffic stop in Cameron, Wisconsin, turns deadly
According to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the shooting occurred when Breidenbach pulled over a vehicle around 3:38 p.m. Saturday for "concerning behavior."
Gunfire was exchanged between the officers and Perry after the driver was pulled over. Breidenbach, the Chetek officer, and Scheel, the Cameron officer, were pronounced dead at the scene. Perry was taken to a hospital and later died.
The investigation into the shootings is being led by the Division of Criminal Investigation, which will submit a report to the Barron County district attorney when the investigation concludes, the release said.
Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright said results of the investigation should be available in 30 to 45 days.
Community leaders in Barron County respond to the tragedy
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Adam Steffen, chief of the Cameron Police Department, spoke about the impact the tragedy has had.
"The death of Officer Hunter Scheel and Officer Emily Breidenbach has been tragic to say the least," Steffen said. "In addition to changing the lives of their families and friends forever, this event has touched me, my department, local law enforcement and law enforcement around the world."
Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis also made a statement saying, "Step by step, we'll be back and we will pull through this and we will be Emily strong."
Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald with the Barron County Sheriff's Office emphasized how close the communities and police departments in the county are and said the loss will be felt for a long time to come.
"We've had tragic events here and Barron County, but nothing like this," Fitzgerald said. "We only heal as one and we need everybody to take part in that. Thank you again to our community, to our supporters, to our friends, to our families."
Since the incident, Facebook has been flooded with messages from friends and family of the fallen officers who expressed sadness and recounted cherished memories of the officers. Residents have placed flowers outside of both police departments.
Community members have started a memorial fund for Officer Breidenbach at Sterling Bank, 427 Second St., in Chetek. An online version will be created soon titled the "Emily Breidenbach Memorial Fund."
A vigil for the officers will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 in the village of Cameron. The details of the funerals have not yet been announced but are likely to be made official sometime Tuesday afternoon.
State officials also expressed sadness
In a tweet Sunday morning, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers expressed his sadness saying, "Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday. Kathy and I are praying for the officers' families, colleagues, and the Barron County community mourning this tragic loss."
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul also addressed the incident on Twitter saying, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss today of two officers. I am thinking of their families and the Chetek and Cameron Police Departments at this incredibly difficult time."
Three Wisconsin officers have now died in the line of duty this year
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a website that tracks deaths in the line of duty across the country, this incident represents Wisconsin's second and third officer deaths in the line of duty this year. No Wisconsin officers died in the line of duty in 2022.
The other officer death in Wisconsin this year took place two months ago when Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed while seeking to arrest a suspect in Milwaukee.
In that instance, gunfire was exchanged between Jerving and the fleeing suspect leaving both Jerving and the suspect, Terrell Thompson, dead.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Emily Breidenbach, Hunter Scheel were officers killed in Barron County
