MILWAUKEE, WI- Two Milwaukee police officers shot in what police are describing as an ambush Thursday night are recovering from their injuries. Now, the Milwaukee Police Association Fallen Heroes, Inc., is collecting donations to provide emergency assistance to the officers, WTMJ-TV reports.
Police said the two officers, each with just over six years of experience on the department, were dispatched to a “subject with weapons” call.
While en route, the call was upgraded to a “shots fired call.”
When the two officers arrived, they were “unexpectedly fired upon” in an alley. Both officers were struck and neither was able to return fire.
The officers were not identified. One, 29 years old, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while the second officer, 32, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The suspect, Tremaine Jones, age unknown, was arrested several hours later, police said.
On Thursday, Milwaukee Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner complained about the number of people who have guns in the city.
“The problem is, too many people have guns,” Waldner said. “So I could put an officer on every single corner. That will not eliminate the amount of guns in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them, right, all over the city.”
In a press release on Facebook, the Milwaukee Police Association wrote the following:
“It is with profound sorrow and outrage that we confirm that two Milwaukee police officers were tragically shot and critically injured in the line of duty tonight. Our thoughts are with these officers, their families, friends, and colleagues. These officers face unimaginable suffering, and they have long roads ahead of them.
“This senseless act of violence has struck at the very heart of our department and our community. We have reached a breaking point. Violence in our city is out of control, and those who protect our neighborhoods are increasingly in the crosshairs."
"We have had 5 officers killed in the line of duty over the past 7 years, and dozens of our officers have been shot and shot at while trying to serve our neighborhoods. Our officers wear the badge with pride and honor, but our officers need more leadership from the city to bring an end to this violence.”
Association president Alex Ayala also told reporters the shooting was an ambush.
“Yes, it was an ambush. The coward tried to ambush my police officers tonight and almost took the life of one of them.”
In just the past seven years, five Milwaukee police officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. Before 2018, it had been 22 years since a city officer was killed.
According to the fundraiser page for the officers, the MPAFH stated that one officer required surgery to repair his foot. The other officer “suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his upper arm, and at least one round penetrated his chest cavity, causing severe internal injuries, including to his heart.”
He underwent emergency surgery and is listed in critical, but stable condition.
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