"Love what I do:" MPD officials honor officers, detectives, citizens during Fall Merit Awards ceremony
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police officers and citizens who went above and beyond the call of duty in connection with some of the most high-profile cases over the past year were honored Wednesday, November 2nd -- during MPD's Fall Merit Awards ceremony.
Officer Katherine Anderer and Officer Joseph Goggins
Officer Katherine Anderer and Officer Joseph Goggins pulled a suicidal man off the 35th Street Viaduct.
"He was sitting on the ledge, on the other side of the bridge -- ready to jump off," Officer Goggins said.
It was the second such case in the same spot for Anderer within a two-week period.
"This is my life. This is what I know," Officer Anderer said.
35th Street Viaduct
Jutiki X
Jutiki X helped save fellow Milwaukee Police Officer Brandon Baranowski -- who was ambushed in his squad car -- shot several times. Baranowski survived.
"I was on patrol in the area and I heard Officer Baranowski call for help," Jutiki X said. "I love what I do. I love serving the public."
Support for Officer Brandon Baranowski (PHOTO: Milwaukee Police Department)
Among those honored Wednesday were the detectives who helped solve the case involving the murder of five-year-old Laylah Petersen.
Laylah Petersen
Rose Marie Galindo
"It was a case where no one was coming forward," Rose Marie Galindo said.
"As a mother myself, I couldn`t imagine losing a child," Katherine Spano said. "I was debating if I should come because this is what we do."
Katherine Spano
The Fall Merit Awards ceremony was an opportunity for MPD to say "job well done," as the rest of us say "thank you" to those who protect and serve.
"You do things at personal risk for people you don`t know," Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said.
Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn
Police say there are stories like this that happen on the streets of Milwaukee every day. These officers aren't looking for recognition -- they're simply doing their job.
MPD Fall Merit Awards