Community Members and Officers in Chippewa Falls Honor Wisconsin State Trooper Bradley Ritger After His Death From Injuries Suffered During a Traffic Pursuit
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI — Community members and law enforcement officers gathered Friday in Chippewa Falls to remember Wisconsin State Trooper Bradley Ritger, who died in the line of duty at age 29. The service brought together people from across the country to show support for Ritger’s family, colleagues and others grieving his death.
The gathering came a week after Ritger died from injuries he suffered while helping with a traffic pursuit last month. He had served with the Wisconsin State Patrol for nearly five years and worked primarily in Dunn County.
Wisconsin State Patrol remembers a trooper known for dedication
Officials with the Wisconsin State Patrol described Ritger as a deeply committed officer who took his responsibilities seriously. Lt. Col. Ryan Chaffee said Ritger was dedicated not only to the people in the region where he worked, but also to residents across Wisconsin.
That sense of service was a theme throughout the memorial gathering. Those who spoke and attended focused on Ritger’s commitment to duty and the loss felt by the agency after his death.
Ritger’s death drew attention well beyond Wisconsin, with officers and supporters traveling or gathering to stand with his co-workers and family. The turnout reflected the close ties that often form within law enforcement during moments of tragedy.
Out-of-state officers join the tribute in Chippewa Falls
The presence of officers from outside Wisconsin underscored the broad network of support surrounding the family. Morgan Robbins of the Indiana State Police said moments like this show how the law enforcement community leans on one another when tragedy strikes.
Robbins said the group’s goal is to stand together during painful moments and help one another get through them. She said that kind of solidarity matters because difficult calls and losses never completely stop.
For many attending Friday’s gathering, the event was about more than remembrance. It was also a visible sign that officers in different states see one another as part of the same extended community, bound by shared experiences and loss.
Police survivors group says the message is that he will not be forgotten
Jo Ann Mignon, president of Wisconsin Concerns of Police Survivors, said the gathering was meant to send a direct message to people who loved Ritger. She said the support shown Friday was intended to reassure his family and friends that his memory will remain alive.
Mignon said the people gathered there wanted Ritger’s loved ones to know he would never be forgotten. Her remarks reflected the role that survivor-support organizations often play after an officer dies in the line of duty.
Those organizations frequently help families and fellow officers navigate the days after a death. Friday’s tribute highlighted that support network and the importance of showing up in person when words alone are not enough.
A private funeral is planned for Saturday morning
Ritger’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. His family has asked that the services remain private, keeping the ceremony limited to those close to him.
The timing of the funeral follows the public tribute in Chippewa Falls, giving mourners a chance to pay respects before the more personal service. For his colleagues, the days ahead will likely continue to center on grief, remembrance and support for his family.
Ritger’s death has left a visible mark on the Wisconsin State Patrol after nearly five years of service. The upcoming funeral will mark another solemn step in the process of honoring his life and line-of-duty sacrifice.
The traffic pursuit injury that led to his death
Ritger was injured last month while assisting with a traffic pursuit, and he died Friday from those injuries. Officials did not provide additional details in the information released about the circumstances of the pursuit or the events that led to the injuries.
What is clear is that the incident took place during the kind of fast-moving duty that state troopers regularly face. Ritger’s death at 29 has now become part of the broader record of officers killed in the line of duty while serving the public.
For the people who filled the church in Chippewa Falls, the exact sequence of events mattered less than the loss itself. Their presence served as a shared expression of respect for a trooper remembered for service, commitment and sacrifice.
