Gerald William Hempe
Agency patch
Police Officer

Gerald William Hempe

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI
Felonious
End of Watch January 31, 1973
Age 31
Tour of Duty 6 yrs 2 mo
Badge 1356
The Vigil Panel 111 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officers Gerald Hempe and Charles Smith were shot and killed during a traffic stop at 10:06 pm. While attempting to arrest the driver of the vehicle, a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a bystander who witnessed the stop walked up to the officers and opened fire, striking them both in the neck and head. The bystander had nothing to do with the stop. The suspect, 27, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on June 12, 1973. He was denied parole in 2010 and 2023. He has another parole hearing on May 11, 2027. Officer Hempe had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for six years.

In Our Keeping

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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 Hempe gave the Milwaukee Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hempe.

— 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 January 31, 1973
Tour of Duty 6 yrs 2 mo
Age 31
Badge Number 1356
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Gerald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1973, 171 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 17th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gerald was 31. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Gerald had served 6.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% 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 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Gerald William Hempe

Milwaukee Police Department · End of Watch January 31, 1973

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-W

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