I’m both shocked and saddened by the tragic news of a Milwaukee Police Officer killed in the line of duty. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Charles Irvine, Jr. who at only 23-years-old was killed upholding his oath to serve and protect his community. Meantime, his 36-year-old partner fights for his life from a hospital bed. I hope and pray he recovers.
As the father of an MPD officer a situation like this hits home to my family, perhaps more than most. The challenges that officers face are monumental, especially in this day and age. Don’t just take my word for it. At the hospital last night following the crash, an officer told me very candidly “we’re ones who hold this city together and yet we’re the ones who get criticized the most.” The officer’s words were both true and unfortunately, incredibly ironical. At a time when so many people are quick to second guess or even ridicule police actions, we are hit with a tragedy like this. My wish is this incident, at the very least, helps people understand the danger that police officers face and service they provide, a service that all too often goes thankless.
Politicians like me often say “officers put their lives on the line on a daily basis.” It’s said so often it almost becomes empty words, a cliché. I can guarantee you it wasn’t a cliché last night.
Again, I ask the citizens of Milwaukee, who are so inclined, to pray for the repose of the soul of Officer Charles Irving. A man who yesterday put on his uniform, strapped on his gun, and went to work to serve the rest of us –fully anticipating to go back home to his family and his loved ones at the end of his shift. Only this time he went home to God.
