MILWAUKEE — A lone squad car sits outside Milwaukee Police District 2 on the city’s south side. Bouquets of flowers, teddy bears and small flags surround the vehicle. It is a moving tribute to fallen Milwaukee Police Officer Kendall Corder, who died Sunday after being shot in the line of duty last Thursday.
Zach Anderson did not know Officer Corder personally, but was among those who came out Monday to pay tribute. Anderson said he is currently studying to be a police officer at Milwaukee Area Technical College. For him, the loss hits close to home.
“I was devastated with the news, hoping that he was going to pull through. Unfortunately, he passed away. It is just devastating for the community, so I hope the community can support his family at this time and just support MPD at this time,” said Anderson.
Organizations coming together to try and support grieving officers at District 2, who must continue on with their day-to-day work during a difficult time. Fox Point-based Friendship Circle is an organization that helps kids and adults with disabilities. They operate a bakery and coffee shop. Monday, they delivered coffee and baked goods to officers.
Friendship Circle President and CEO Levi Stein said he is just looking to show support.
“I wouldn’t say it (delivering coffee) is making so much a difference in that sense because we can’t take away what happened. But just to tell the department that we’re thinking about them and we thank them for their service, and if we could be a support in any way we want to be.”
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said on Monday that he and other city leaders are taking notice of the community’s strong level of support for Officer Corder and for the police department as a whole.
“I can tell you from my experience in city service, as an alderman and now as mayor, the people in this city, they value the police. People in Milwaukee, they want police. That is why they call them, why they expect them to show up. They value them and they show that in that time of need for District 2 and the police department in general,” said Johnson.
The Mayor also saying it will take a community approach to stop future violence against police officers.
“It is an issue for all of us to take on. Not just elected officials, not just police, but folks in our community, in our neighborhoods too. That is why I call on them to do what they can in order to make sure we are curbing violence,” said Johnson.