For three Marquette police officers, spending a day volunteering at a grief camp for children who lost a parent in the line of duty is personal.
“Concerns of Police Survivors Kids Camp has had a deep and lasting impact on me,” Capt. Ruth Peterson says. “It’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement families and the resilience of the children who attend.”
Assistant Chief Jeff Kranz, who lost two colleagues during his time with the Milwaukee Police Department, said it was a chance to give back.
“It was part of the motivation for doing this,” he says. “You feel like you’re paying a little back to the people who gave everything.”
Held in July at the Salvation Army Wonderland Camp in Salem, Wisconsin, the annual C.O.P.S. Kids Camp offers families a space to connect, grieve and heal. Among the volunteers this year were Peterson, Kranz and Sgt. Glenn Berrios-Schroeder, who joined over 140 campers for a day.
“I’ve participated in this event for the past 10 years,” Peterson says. “It’s important to get involved in this event because it allows us to support children who have endured one of the most profound losses imaginable — the death of a parent in the line of duty. These children are part of our extended law enforcement family.”
Kranz, a first-time attendee, was motivated to join after a recent tragedy hit close to home.
“My son, who works in that district, worked with that officer, so it kind of hit a little closer to home this time,” Kranz says, referring to the recent death of a Milwaukee police officer. “Cops always talk about how they’re a family, and I kind of thought it was time to put my money where my mouth is and go and contribute.”
Throughout their time there, campers swam, fished, canoed, did arts and crafts and participated in nightly campfires. They also received professional grief counseling while parents and guardians participated in peer support sessions.
Kranz worked closely with the children, saying, “I really wanted to brighten the day up for a few of these kids. What they’ve been through is just unbelievable and I can’t imagine it.”
One moment stuck with him. “One of the girls I was with was around eight years old. I was doing a craft with her, and she was supporting me saying, ‘Oh, you’re doing good. Keep trying. It looks really good,’” he says. “I felt like I was the one getting the support.”
For the officers, attending the camp wasn’t just about the activities, it was about showing these families that their loss is not forgotten.
“Our presence shows respect, solidarity and a deep commitment to the values that brought us into this profession,” Peterson says. “I want them to know they’re not alone — that their loved one’s sacrifice is honored and remembered.”
Kranz echoes the sentiment. “You’re not forgetting the officers who have passed. That’s important,” he says. “These people died doing the job that I do every day. They laid their life down for their community. The best way to remember their legacy is to take care of the family.”
Though he was nervous at first about how to talk to the kids, Kranz says the conversations came naturally. “One of the kids took karate. They were showing me all the stuff they were learning. Then you realize that maybe they don’t have that person to show that stuff to anymore.”
Peterson adds, “Interactions with each camper are very different. Conversations are usually about where they are from, what grade they’re in and their hobbies.”
By the end of the day, the officers left with more than they had brought.
“It recentered me,” Kranz says. “You remember how you treat your fellow staff and the cops you’re on the street with. You understand that this could happen to any of us at any time. It’s just important to take care of each other.”
