Police Officer Dennis Lee O'Bradovich, Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin

Police Officer Dennis Lee O'Bradovich

Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin

End of Watch Sunday, August 17, 1975

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Dennis Lee O'Bradovich

Officer Dennis O'bradovich was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend four armed suspects who were robbing a lounge.

He was off-duty when the four men entered and announced a holdup. When he identified himself and attempted to take action, he was shot. As the suspects fled, they shot him several more times as he lay on the floor.

All four suspects, 18, 19, 21, and 22, were convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery and sentenced to life plus 60 years on February 11, 1976. On May 6, 1977, the 18 and 21-year-old escaped from Green Bay Prison. The youngest was apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1978. He attempted to escape again on August 16, 2000, but was caught before he could escape. The other was apprehended in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1980. The 18 and 19-year-old suspects were paroled in May of 2006. The other two suspects were still in prison on October 16, 2022, with no chance of parole.

Officer Obradovich had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for over six years. He is survived by his parents.

Bio

Age 30
Tour 6 years, 3 months
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Sentenced to life

off duty, robbery

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Most Recent Reflection

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Heavenly Father, I pray for the families of all America’s Peace Officers who have been killed in the Line-of-Duty and I thank you for their sacrifices. Bless the lives of their families so they might find healing. Help their law enforcement departments and agencies support their families. Even though their deaths might have been senseless, make something good come out of these situations so that their departments, agencies and communities, counties, states or nation, the United States of America, in which they lived and worked, might be stronger because of their lives and their deaths. In Christ Jesus’ mighty and holy name, I pray. Amen.

Scripture Supporting Law Enforcement:

“So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the policeman does not frighten people who are doing right; but those doing evil will always fear him. So if you don’t want to be afraid, keep the laws and you will get along well. The policeman is sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for he will have you punished. He is sent by God for that very purpose. Obey the laws, then, for two reasons: first, to keep from being punished, and second, just because you know you should.” [Romans 13:2-5 TLB]

Chaplain Steven R. Closs, DDiv, MSBS, NCCA, FCPO-USA
Certified Independent Law Enforcement Chaplain
Merrimack, NH 03054

Captain Steven R. Closs (Ret.)
Nashua NH Police Department (1974-1998)

October 3, 2023