Michael L. Draeger
Agency patch
Police Officer

Michael L. Draeger

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI
Accident
End of Watch December 28, 1974
Age 26
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 5
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Michael Draeger succumbed to burns received one month earlier when his clothing caught fire following a vehicle accident. He responded to an officer needs assistance call when his patrol wagon collided with another police car. He was able to free himself from the wreckage but his gasoline-soaked clothing caught fire. He was transported to a burn center where he succumbed to his wounds one month later. Officer Draeger had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Draeger gave the Milwaukee Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Draeger.

— 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 December 28, 1974
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 26
Badge Number 5
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Michael is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1974, 98 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Michael had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Michael L. Draeger

Milwaukee Police Department · End of Watch December 28, 1974

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-W

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