Fallen Heroes
Police Officers Gerald Hempe and Charles T. Smith were shot and killed at about 10 PM on January 31, 1973.
The two officers were on patrol in their district. They called the dispatcher and said they wanted another squad to meet them in the 2300 block of N. Palmer Street as soon as possible. That was the last transmission from the men.
As Officers Hempe and Smith were arresting the passenger, the driver got out of the car and began shooting at them.
Two detectives were four blocks away when they heard the transmission. When they arrived, the two officers were lying in the street behind their van.
Officer Charles Smith was 24 years old and had been with the Milwaukee Police Department for less than a year.