A solemn silence fell over Milwaukee this weekend as the city said goodbye to Officer Kendall Corder, a six-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department who died Sunday, June 29, after succumbing to injuries sustained in an ambush-style shooting last week.

“His bravery and dedication to serve Milwaukee was noble and shall never be forgotten,” the department said in a statement filled with grief, pride, and respect.

A Hero’s Final Call

Officer Corder, 32, and his partner, Officer Christopher McCray, 29, were responding to a report of a person with a weapon around 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, near 25th and Garfield. The call, believed to involve domestic violence, was upgraded to shots fired while officers were en route.
Source: Milwaukee Police Department
Upon exiting their squad car in an alley, the officers were immediately and unexpectedly fired upon, with no chance to return fire. The incident has been described by officials as an ambush.

Both men were rushed to Froedtert Hospital, where Corder was placed on life support. McCray, who suffered gunshot wounds to the back and foot, was released two days later. Tragically, Corder’s injuries, including damage to his heart, proved fatal.

Outpouring of Grief and Support

A procession of squad cars escorted Officer Corder’s body from Froedtert to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office on Sunday. It was a heartbreaking tribute witnessed by community members, fellow officers, and city officials.

The Milwaukee Police Association expressed heartbreak, calling Corder’s actions heroic:

“That night, Officer Corder and his partner did what officers across our city do every day: he stepped up to protect the community despite the enormous risks.”

A City Reflects

In the past five months alone, four Milwaukee officers have been shot, three in just the last two weeks. Officer Corder is the sixth MPD officer to be shot and killed in the line of duty since 2018.

Milwaukee’s police leadership urged the public to honor Corder’s memory not only with mourning, but with recognition:

“He put his life on the line each time he put on the uniform… MPD is forever grateful for Officer Corder’s courage in the line of duty.”

Fundraiser by Katie Gebhardt-Anderer : Honoring the life of Police Officer Kendall Corder

The Suspect in Custody

Police arrested 22-year-old Tremaine Jones around 2:15 a.m. Friday without incident. He has since been transferred to the Milwaukee County Jail but has not yet been formally charged.

Court records show Jones had one prior conviction related to a stolen vehicle and accepted a deferred prosecution deal at the time.

Legacy of Service

As tributes continue to pour in, the Milwaukee Police Department and its supporters are left to carry the legacy of Officer Kendall Corder. He is remembered not just for the uniform he wore, but for the courage he showed when it mattered most.

Rest in peace, Officer Corder.