Matthew John Rittner
Agency patch
Police Officer

Matthew John Rittner

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch February 6, 2019
Age 35
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Badge 1286
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Matthew Rittner was shot and killed as he executed a narcotics and firearms related search warrant at a home in the 2900 block of South 12th Street near West Dakota Street.

As the Tactical Enforcement Unit attempted to breach the apartment door the suspect opened fire with an AK-47, shooting through the door and striking Officer Rittner in the chest.

Officer Rittner was transported to Froedtert Hospital where he died from his injuries.

The subject who shot him was taken into custody at the scene. He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and numerous other narcotics and weapons charges. He was sentenced to life without parole.

Officer Rittner was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the War on Terror. He had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for 17 years.

Officer Rittner was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the War on Terror. He had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for 17 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his expectant wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Matthew is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Rittner gave the Milwaukee Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 6, 2019
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 35
Badge Number 1286
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; AK-47

Military Service

Matthew John Rittner served in the U.S. Marine Corps (2003–2004) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Matthew is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2019, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Matthew was 35. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Matthew had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; ak-47, in 0.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Milwaukee Police Department has 69 officers remembered here, Matthew among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Matthew John Rittner

Milwaukee Police Department · End of Watch February 6, 2019

Military Service

Matthew John Rittner served in the U.S. Marine Corps (2003–2004) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Matthew John Rittner’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E

Also Remembered

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