Joseph Lecher

Detective Joseph Lecher died on March 21, 1943, one month after being shot when he cornered a burglar in a bedroom in the 5400 block of W. Wells Street.

Police received an anonymous call about a suspicious individual in a home where the owners were believed to be away. Four detectives responded to the house as they had been searching for a burglar believed to be responsible for dozens of crimes.

Two detectives remained outside while Detective Lecher and another detective entered the home. Hearing a door slam, the detectives flung it open. Shots rang out from under a bed. Detective Lecher was struck and collapsed. The other detective took a dive to the floor and returned fire, striking the suspect under the bed. The capture solved almost daily reports of burglaries on the West side.

Detective Lecher was 36 years old and had been a member of the Milwaukee Police Department since May 23, 1933. He became a detective in April 1941.

He was married and had four children: Joseph Jr., 12; Beverly, 9; Frederick, 7; and Louis, who was born 10 days before the shooting.