Lieutenant John Conger

Milton Police Department
Milton, WI

Date of Death: October 20, 2013

Age: 43
Years of Service: 23
Duty Status: Active
Veteran: No

Lt. Congers achievements are far too numerous to list. He worked with children, tried to keep prescription drugs off the streets and created “lunch with a cop” at the local school.

“During his career he received 2 community service awards and 3 Commander’s commendations. In December of 2009, he was awarded accolades by then Governor Doyle for his work in creating the legislation that required traveling sales companies to be licensed in his State. The drug drop box earned regional acclaim, as Partners in Prevention in Rock County awarded the Milton PD a “Community Champion Award” in the spring of 2010 for his work. In 2012 the Safe Exchange program earned statewide recognition from the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association (WCPA) as an innovative program award winner.

He witnessed the darker side of law enforcement. The horrific events that he carried in his soul. Law enforcement is an emotionally and physically dangerous job where officers continuously face the effects of sudden deaths, violence, rape, child abuse, accidents and tragic disasters. This profession exacts a heavy toll on police officers as well as their families. When these men and women feel the pressure, the fatigue, the deep sadness, they do not seek help, as they view themselves AS the help. Law enforcement officers live in a culture where emotional responses are stigmatized and officers learn to ‘suck it up’.

John lived and breathed being a police officer. It was his life goal. From the day his children were born their lives were intertwined with the police department. Visits to the office, community activities and fellow officers like family, were an almost daily part of their lives. Those relationships were severed the day their dad died. The stigma of his suicide will follow his family forever.

This was a man who made a difference. He has not been remembered nor recognized for how he lived, but forgotten because of how he died. He was not killed in the line of duty but because of his duty.

Many of the programs he initiated are still in place today: the Safe Ride Program, the Prescription Drug drop off box, Milton Youth Coalition, and Lunch with A Cop. He saw through to the end, Malinda’s Act, Senate Bill 4 that was signed in 2009 to prevent tragedies like the one he witnessed in 1999. Lieutenant John Conger’s work with the Milton Police Department positively impacted the lives of all who knew him. This is a man who deserves to be remembered for how he lived, NOT how he died.”