Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving, 37, died after he was shot near 14th and Cleveland on the city’s south side early Tuesday, Feb. 7. Police said he was shot during a struggle with a robbery suspect who had just been placed on probation Monday.

Peter Jerving

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The shooting happened around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday when officers responded to 14th and Cleveland. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said there was a report a man wanted for a robbery that happened near Teutonia and Good Hope Road late Monday was in the area. Norman identified him as Terrell Thompson, 19.

Terrell Thompson

Chief Norman said officers found Thompson, but he ran off. After officers caught up to him, during a struggle, Norman said Thompson shot Officer Jerving. Jerving then fired back, hitting Thompson. He died at the scene.

Jerving, 37, had four years of service with the Milwaukee Police Department. He died at the hospital.

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FOX6 News learned Thompson was in court Monday for a 2021 case and pleaded guilty to causing a hit-and-run.

Court records indicate Judge Christopher Dee ordered Thompson to serve 120 days in the House of Correction but stayed that sentence in favor of 12 months of probation. It means Thompson only had to serve time if he violated the conditions of his probation.

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Jerving was a lifelong Milwaukee resident and decorated officer, honored by the police department in fall 2022 for saving someone’s life in June. The Milwaukee Police Department said he received the award “for heroically providing lifesaving care to a shooting victim during extremely dangerous conditions.” Officer Jerving grabbed a fire extinguisher and helped save a man in a burning vehicle who had been shot.

A procession guided Jerving’s body from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office Tuesday morning. Highways were shut down Tuesday evening for another procession, as the fallen officer’s body was transported from the Milwaukee medical examiner’s office to a Brookfield funeral home.

“He was a loving friend, trusting colleague and outstanding officer whose passion it was to serve since the age of 13,” Norman said.

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