Mourning community members gathered in Barron County 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 were present as the bodies of the officers were transported from Barron to Minnesota, where autopsies will take place, after which the bodies will be returned to Wisconsin.
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. The identity of the suspect, who also died in the incident, has not yet been released.
A routine traffic stop in Cameron, Wisconsin, turns deadly
According to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the shooting occurred when a Chetek officer pulled over a vehicle around 3:38 p.m.
Gunfire was exchanged between the officers and the motorist at some point. The Chetek officer and an officer from Cameron were pronounced dead at the scene. The motorist was taken to a hospital and later died as well.
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.
The DOJ has not responded to any information requests at this time.
Community leaders from across Wisconsin respond
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.
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.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Cameron and Chetek Police Departments,” the Barron County Sheriff’s Department posted on Facebook.
Three 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 would represent Wisconsin’s second and third officer deaths in the line of duty this year. In 2022 no Wisconsin officers died in the line of duty.
The other officer death in Wisconsin this year took place just 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.