Families, dignitaries gather to remember fallen police officers

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Police Department, in conjunction with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and the Milwaukee County Law Enforcement Executives Association (MCLEEA), hosted the eighth annual Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony Wednesday, May 8th.

The event honors Milwaukee County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. This year, it recognized two officers, Wauwatosa Police Officer Jennifer Sebena and Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Sergio Aleman.

"As long as we remember them, they aren’t  truly gone," said Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn. "They died fulfilling their dream and they died for something. They died about something. That has to give us some comfort.”

Early Christmas Eve morning 2012, Wauwatosa Police Officer Jennifer Sebena was shot and killed while on duty. Her husband has been charged in the crime.

Last July, Milwaukee County Deputy Sergio Aleman died when his service vehicle rear-ended a tow truck on I-43 -- not far from the ceremony's location.

It was a tough, yet welcomed ceremony for the families as well. Sebena was remembered on and off the job.

"She had a kind, gentle nature and wanted to make a difference with people. Memories are so precious. And we hang on to those memories," said Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber.

The families of Aleman and Sebena laid wreaths in memory of their loved ones..

National Police Week is May 12th through the 18th. Sebena and Aleman are being remembered all over the country and will be included on a memorial in Washington, D.C.