Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs' AssociationEst. 1927
Memorial
LINE OF DUTY DEATHS
Howard F. GrundmanDeputy Sheriff
31 years of age
Service Dates: 1930 – 1/30/34
(Served as Turnkey prior to appointment as deputy sheriff dates unknown)
On January 30 1934, Deputy Grundman, a motorcycle officer, was assigned to serve process. He was also assigned to be on the lookout for a hit and run vehicle. His shift started at 8:30AM. He made a routine call in at 6:15PM. At 7:30PM a local farmer found Deputy Grundman’s motorcycle off of the road at Hamburg (now N. 76th St.) and W. Mill Road. Deputy Grundman had been thrown from the cycle. He was transported to County General hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, without providing any clues as to what happened. The cause of the accident is unknown.
Alvin H. Beckmeier
Sergeant
43 years of age
Service dates: 1931 – 05/10/47
(First three years were served as a temporary Deputy Sheriff)
On May 10, 1947 Sergeant Bechmeier, a motorcycle officer assigned to patrol, was responding to an emergency call for a choking child at 60th and Highway 100. At approximately 2:00 PM he entered the intersection of S. 76th and W. Layton Ave., Town of Greenfield. He struck the side of an automobile and was thrown from the cycle. He died instantly.
Lloyd L. Rhodes
Deputy Sheriff
31 years of age
Service dates: 3/12/48 – 11/17/51
On Saturday November 17, 1951, Deputy Rhodes was assigned to patrol. He was normally a motorcycle officer, but assigned to a squad for the purposes of monitoring speeders. He had left a meeting with a fellow deputy at Highway 100 and National avenue and headed south. The other deputy indicated Rhodes was trying to stop a speeder. At approximately 1:00 PM the police dispatcher received a call from squad 550 (Rhodes’ squad) that there was a bad accident on Highway 100 and Lincoln. When other units arrived they found Rhodes had struck the side of a truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wallace N. Schilling
Deputy Sheriff
38 years of age
Service Dates: 1/1/69 – 10/8/75
On Wednesday October 10, 1975 Deputy Sheriff Schilling was assigned to the early shift traffic bureau, patrolling the freeways of Milwaukee County. At approximately 6:30 PM another deputy began to pursue a stolen vehicle. Deputy Schilling, who was in the Safety Building, responded and joined the pursuit. The fleeing vehicle crashed alongside I-94 south of Forest Hill, Oak Creek. As the deputies were attempting to remove the suspect from vehicle a fight broke out. Two more deputies joined in the fight. Deputy Schilling was standing alongside the fight, when one of the deputy’s weapon discharged striking Schilling in the chest. He was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital where died at 7:00 PM that night.
John Trandell
Deputy Sheriff I
46 years of age
Service dates: 2/11/63 – 5/1/82
On Thursday April 30, 1982, Deputy Trandel was assigned as a bailiff at the Children’s Court Center, 10201 W. Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa. At approximately 3:00 PM Deputy Trandel became involved in a fight with a juvenile. During the struggle Deputy Trandel was hit in the head. He fell to the ground, hit his head again and became unconscious. At some point he suffered a heart attack. He was transported to County General hospital where he was placed in intensive care. He died at 12:30 AM the next morning, without regaining consciousness.
David Demos
Deputy Sheriff I
45 years of age
Service Dates 1982 – 1/25/97
On Saturday January 25, 1997 Deputy Demos was assigned to the early shift of the Expressway Patrol/ Institution Security Bureau. He was assigned to patrol the freeways of Milwaukee County. Deputy Demos had pulled to the side of the road, East I-94 (S/B) at W. Chase St., Milwaukee, to assist a motorist. At 5:19PM, while standing alongside the motorist’s vehicle, a drunk driver struck Demos and fled the scene. Demos was conveyed to Froedert Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Sung Hui Bang
Deputy Sheriff/ Pilot
31 years of age
Service Dates 2/20/97 – 8/17/00
On Thursday August 17, 2000 Deputy Bang was assigned to the Police Services Bureau as a pilot for air-one, the department’s helicopter. The helicopter had been requested to assist the Juneau County Sheriff’s Department in an aerial search for a suspect wanted in the murder of a Chicago Illinois Police Officer. After completing the search the helicopter began to return to Milwaukee. The crew called Milwaukee at 9:00 PM saying they were leaving Baraboo, WI in Sauk County. At approximately 9:40 PM the helicopter crashed into a farmer’s field, located alongside county highway R, northwest of the town of Old Lisbon in Dodge County. Deputy Bang was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ralph E. Zylka
Deputy Sheriff/ Crew Chief
47 years of age
Service Dates: 2/20/76 – 8/17/00
On Thursday August 17, 2000 Deputy Zylka was assigned to the Police Services Bureau as the crew chief for air-one, the department’s helicopter. The helicopter had been requested to assist the Juneau County Sheriff’s Department in an aerial search for a suspect wanted in the murder of a Chicago Illinois Police Officer. After completing the search the helicopter began to return to Milwaukee. The crew called Milwaukee at 9:00 PM saying they were leaving Baraboo, WI in Sauk County. At approximately 9:40 PM the helicopter crashed into a into a farmer’s field, located alongside county highway R, northwest of the town of Old Lisbon in Dodge County. Deputy Zylka was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sergio Aleman
Deputy Sheriff
50 years of age
Service Dates: 6/10/94 - 7/31/12
On Tuesday July 31st, 2012, Deputy Aleman was assigned to 1st Shift Patrol. After assisting a motorist, Aleman left to respond to another call for service. While en route, Deputy Aleman's service vehicle was involved in an accident. Aleman was conveyed to Froedert
Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
CALL TO DUTY MEMORIAL
In Remembering The Past We Honor The Present
A Memorial Garden and Statue honoring the officers that made the ultimate sacrifice for their community, was designed and built at the Milwaukee County Sheriff Training Academy, located in Franklin, Wisconsin. The memorial is dedicated to all who have served the citizens of Milwaukee County while working for the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department. This memorial honors the courage, dedication and devotion of all the department's sworn officers who have served in the past, are serving in the present or will serve in the future. In particular, the memorial recognizes those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in the line of duty.
The memorial is located near a quiet, grassy area, off the main rotunda of the Academy and is visible from the main hallway as well as a small break area. Surrounded by trees, to give it some privacy, the memorial offers beautiful views of the southern part of Milwaukee County. There is also a low retaining wall that offers a place to sit and reflect on the meaning of the site. Many visitors take the opportunity to enjoy the gardens as they transition from season to season.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's department memorial is maintained by a non-profit organization consisting of current and former members of the department, who have a profound and dedicated sense of honor toward the dignity of the memorial and to the memory of all of the department's officers. This group of women and men rely on the donation made by others to assist in maintaining the site. A main source of these donations is from the sale of inscribed bricks. These bricks surround the statue and contain messages from the donor. Some of these messages provide a sense of comfort to the families and friends who have lost a loved one, while others have more personal sayings.
The purchase of the bricks are tax deductible as allowed by the law as a 501(3)(c) organization.
Donations are the only means of maintaining this memorial. No tax dollars are used at any time.
These bricks can be purchased by contacting the Memorial Committee at mcsdcalltoduty@yahoo.com
or
by visiting the website for an order form at www.mcsdcalltoduty.org
or
by calling Mark Stieber at (414) 321-1191
The Call to Duty
Memorial
is located at
9225 South 68th Street
Franklin, WI
