Incident
Officer Riley and Officer Thomas Matulis were shot and killed while attempting to intervene with a disorderly man outside of a local bar. The two officers were off-duty and leaving a baseball game when they observed the man. As they attempted to calm the man he produced a handgun and shot both officers. The suspect was convicted of two counts of murder but had the convictions overturned on appeal by claiming self defense. Officer Riley had been with the agency for six years.
In Our Keeping
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- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Riley 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 Riley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Milwaukee Police Department has lost 69 officers; 42 of them killed feloniously.
Robert is one of 159 officers killed feloniously in WI, 50% of the 318 remembered there.
Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Robert is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1974, 2 officers at Milwaukee Police Department were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1917, with 9.
In 1974, 3 officers in WI were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 89 years on record. The heaviest was 1917, with 11.
In 1974, 162 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1974, 178 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Robert had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Robert had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6.2 years.
Robert had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Robert had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 9.5% of these deaths at Milwaukee Police Department; November holds the most, 28.6%. Wednesdays: 26.2%.
July holds 11.9% of these deaths in WI; November holds the most, 11.9%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60.9% of all 69 deaths at Milwaukee Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 42.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 318 deaths in WI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 27.7% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Milwaukee Police Department has 69 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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Frank Piszczek
Jun 22, 1884
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John Kossow
Sep 30, 1899
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Ernest Johnson
Sep 15, 1904
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Otto H. Flieth
Dec 17, 1908
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Peter Gauer
Jul 3, 1909
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Charles William Gudgell
Aug 22, 1916
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Frank Caswin
Nov 24, 1917
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Henry Deckert
Nov 24, 1917
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Frederick Kaiser
Nov 24, 1917
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David O'Brien
Nov 24, 1917
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Charles Seehawer
Nov 24, 1917
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Edward Spindler
Nov 24, 1917
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Stephen Stecker
Nov 24, 1917
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Albert Templin
Nov 24, 1917
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Paul Weiler
Nov 24, 1917
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William F. Kaemmerling
Jan 28, 1922
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Joseph Kubacki
May 24, 1924
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Walter Luedtke
Dec 18, 1924
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Harry W. Schmidt
Apr 4, 1925
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Hilbert F. Thurow
Aug 22, 1930
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Robert E. Bahlke, Jr.
Feb 23, 1932
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Richard R. Zingler
Feb 8, 1933
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Harry Pieske
Jun 27, 1935
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Charles George
Jun 8, 1936
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Nels Goodman
Aug 10, 1937
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George H. Raabe
Nov 2, 1937
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Albert Charles Grosskopf
Feb 13, 1943
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Joseph A. Lecher
Mar 21, 1943
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Arnold O. Werner
Jul 10, 1943
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Valentine Adam, Jr.
Mar 6, 1948
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Elmer A. Bates
Aug 23, 1948
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Vernon V. White
Nov 10, 1951
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Raymond A. Nencki
Oct 5, 1959
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Robert Elroy Kraemer
Feb 7, 1963
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James J. Rivers
Mar 21, 1966
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Ronald T. Hogan
May 2, 1967
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Bryan J. Moschea
Jul 31, 1967
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George Fish
Sep 22, 1970
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Alan Sroczynski
Nov 8, 1970
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Paul G. DuPlanty
Nov 9, 1971
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Gerald William Hempe
Jan 31, 1973
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Charles T. Smith
Jan 31, 1973
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Ronald Patrick Reagan
Dec 13, 1973
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Thomas George Matulis
Jul 10, 1974
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Robert D. Riley
Jul 10, 1974
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Michael L. Draeger
Dec 28, 1974
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Dennis Lee OBradovich
Aug 17, 1975
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Albert C. Kohn
Oct 29, 1975
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Thomas Randy Kiefer
Nov 25, 1977
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John A. Machajewski
Dec 23, 1981
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Charles S. Mehlberg
Dec 23, 1981
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Sydney Carter Snow, Jr.
Jan 30, 1982
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Rosario Joseph Collura
Mar 19, 1985
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Leonard Raymond Lesnieski
Mar 19, 1985
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Dennis J. Gorlewski
Mar 25, 1987
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Roger A. Sterling
May 11, 1987
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Steven John Hasenstab
Aug 19, 1989
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Richard E. Wagner
Oct 25, 1990
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Michael R. Tourmo
Nov 18, 1990
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William Arthur Robertson
Sep 7, 1994
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Michael Andrew Niehoff
Nov 30, 1994
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Wendolyn Odell Tanner
Sep 7, 1996
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Jason Vetter
Oct 2, 2017
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Charles G. Irvine, Jr.
Jun 7, 2018
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Michael John Michalski
Jul 25, 2018
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Matthew John Rittner
Feb 6, 2019
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Mark Shawn Lentz
Sep 18, 2019
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Peter E. C. Jerving
Feb 7, 2023
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Kendall Isaiah Corder
Jun 29, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W
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