In final act in office, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell R. Lucas presents financial gift to fallen deputies memorial nonprofit
FRANKLIN – In a last official act, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas presented a check for $10,000 to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department Historical Memorial Committee Sunday morning. The memorial, […]
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FRANKLIN – In a last official act, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas presented a check for $10,000 to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department Historical Memorial Committee Sunday morning.
The memorial, also known as the “Call to Duty Memorial,” is housed at the Sheriff’s Office Training Academy and consists of a statue featuring a kneeling deputy sheriff on an octagonal pedestal, signifying eight-hour work shifts. The statue’s base bears the names of the 13 Milwaukee County deputy sheriffs who have given their lives in the line of duty over the years, dating back to August 1915. The statue sits in a circular field of paving bricks, which carry messages from the memorial’s supporters, and the bricks are surrounded by a garden area with walkways approaching the memorial from the north, east, and west.
In recent years, the memorial, whose construction was completed in September 2002, and which is maintained by the nonprofit Historical Memorial Committee, has fallen in disrepair. The brick field has sunken, causing rainwater and melting snow to pool, causing further damage. And, among other concerns, the state of the ground around the memorial has caused a flagpole to lean crookedly. The committee estimates the brick paver field alone will cost $15,000 to repair.
“The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office would like to express its gratitude and support for this important memorial,” Sheriff Lucas said. “Countless loved ones, colleagues, and, generally, supporters of law enforcement, have visited this memorial over the past 20 years to reflect on the memories of our members who gave their all. With this donation, this office is pleased to assist with the memorial’s much needed repairs. And we hope this gift inspires others to assist, as well.”
Lucas, a veteran public safety and security executive with more than 40 years of experience, including 25 years as a Milwaukee Police Officer, 17 years as an executive with Major League Baseball, and, of course, four years as Milwaukee County Sheriff, resigned his latter role on Friday, and will begin a new position Monday, October 24, as vice president of security for Wisconsin, for Brookfield-based global fintech firm, Fiserv, Inc.
