Roll of Honor
Incident
K9 Officer Ryan Copeland was killed in a vehicle collision on County Highway N, near Bublitz Road in the town of Albion, at approximately 12:30 pm.
He was just beginning his shift and was traveling westbound when a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources pickup truck crossed the center line and struck his patrol car head-on. Officer Copeland succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
It is believed that the DNR vehicle went out of control due to slushy conditions during a period of snow.
Officer Copeland was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the McFarland Police Department for three years.
John 5:28, 29 - "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out". I pray that everyone can find peace in knowing that we will see this officer as well as many others again in Paradise soon. Until then, please accept my condolences.
A.W. Montgomery Concerned Citizen August 31st, 2018
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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.
K9 Officer Copeland gave the McFarland Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the McFarland community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ryan Patrick Copeland served in the Army (2003â2012) before joining law enforcement.
K9 Officer Ryan Patrick Copeland is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WI, 124 of 317 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ryan Patrick Copeland's cause is highlighted.
How Ryan Patrick Copeland Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ryan Patrick Copeland is highlighted in Nov.