Incident
Officer Zingler was shot and mortally wounded when he walked in on three armed robbers beating a night watchman in a grocery store. He was walking his beat and decided to go into the store to talk to the watchman and warm his hands. As he entered he exchanged gunfire with the men and was shot in the abdomen. He succumbed to his wounds two days later. All three suspects were eventually apprehended. All three suspects were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 1936 two of the suspect's sentences were reduced to one to 14 years, and both were paroled a few months later. In 1942 the third suspect's sentence was reduced to 20 years. Officer Zingler had been with the agency for nine years.
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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 Zingler gave the Milwaukee Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Zingler.
— 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.
Richard is one of 159 officers killed feloniously in WI, 50% of the 318 remembered there.
Richard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Richard is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1933, 1 officer at Milwaukee Police Department was killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1917, with 9.
In 1933, 3 officers in WI were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 89 years on record. The heaviest was 1917, with 11.
In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1933, 186 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Richard was 41. Of the 38 killed feloniously at Milwaukee Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 37.8; the middle age was 34. Richard had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Richard was 41. Of the 141 killed feloniously in WI whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 38. Richard had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6.2 years.
Richard was 41. 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. Richard had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Richard was 41. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Richard had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 7.1% of these deaths at Milwaukee Police Department; November holds the most, 28.6%. Wednesdays: 26.2%.
February holds 4.4% of these deaths in WI; November holds the most, 11.9%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
February holds 7.4% 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 51.7% of all 34,117 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, Richard 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 41-W
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