CAMERON, Wis. (WLAK) – Two police officers are dead after a shootout following a traffic stop in Barron County on Saturday, April 8.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the officers were killed during a shootout with a person that had been stopped for a traffic violation in the Village of Cameron at 3:38 p.m. Saturday.
Officer Emily Breidenbach, 32, of the Chetek Police Department and Officer Hunter Scheel, 23, of the Cameron Police Department were named Monday afternoon as the two officers killed in the shooting. KSTP-TV in Minneapolis said family and friends identified Breidenbach as one of the two officers killed in the shooting over the weekend.
The DOJ said in a release that the officers stopped a vehicle driven by a 50-year-old man based on a warrant for a welfare check after being told of concerning behavior, and gunfire was exchanged.
The police officers were pronounced dead at the scene, while 50-year-old Glenn Douglas Perry, who was in the vehicle that was stopped, was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to a release from the DOJ.
Breidenbach had served for five years in law enforcement, beginning her career with the Stoughton Police Department before joining the Chetek Police Department for the last four years. Breidenbach was also the handler for K-9 Grizz. Scheel graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy this past December and had served with the Cameron Police Department for about one year. Scheel had served six years with the Army National Guard.
In a joint press release issued by the leaders of each police department, Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis and Cameron Police Chief Adam Steffen, both officers were described as passionate about their work. Scheel was “a dedicated officer and was very passionate about his job.” Breidenbach’s “compassion for the community and the children of Chetek” was “remarkable,” according to statements in the release.
Gov. Tony Evers said Sunday on social media that “Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Evers also said he would be issuing an executive order to lower U.S. and Wisconsin flags to half-staff once funeral arrangements were announced.
The DOJ is investigating the shooting. Also assisting the DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation are the Barron County Sheriff’s Office, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Wisconsin State Crime Lab. There is no threat to the public, according to the DOJ.