Incident
Trooper Brad Ritger succumbed to injuries sustained on September 21, 2026, when he fell from a highway overpass on I-94 in Dunn County after deploying spike strips.
Troopers had located a vehicle that had fled from other officers several hours earlier. The vehicle fled a second time, and troopers pursued it along I-94. Trooper Ritger deployed spike strips and was moving to a position of cover when he fell from the bridge onto 490th Avenue below. Other officers immediately rendered aid until he was transported to a local hospital. He remained hospitalized until succumbing to his injuries on October 2, 2026.
The vehicle that was being pursued stopped a short distance away due to punctured tires after hitting the spike strips, and the driver was taken into custody.
Trooper Ritger had served with the Wisconsin State Patrol for five years and had previously served with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for three years.
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BO-US-WI-2B181820- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- October 4, 2026
- Last updated
- October 4, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Ritger gave the Wisconsin State Patrol 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Wisconsin. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Ritger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Bradley Ritger is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,802 officers honored here.
In WI, 125 of 318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.3% of this state's fallen. That is 39.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Wisconsin State Patrol, 6 of 9 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bradley Ritger's cause is highlighted.
How Bradley Ritger Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Bradley Ritger is highlighted in Oct.
Where the Name Is Cut
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Wisconsin State Patrol are honored on badge.nw.







