Blankets honor fallen Milwaukee officers, fund scholarships
MILWAUKEE - The mother of fallen Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving is honoring her son's legacy by crafting an idea to help recruit new officers and remember the fallen.
"When they use these blankets, I want them to think of Peter. Not so much me, but Peter," said Patty Jerving.
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Patty came up with an idea both handcrafted and inspired by love. She crocheted more than 20 afghans to raise money for new recruits at the police academy.
"He had lots of plans to help the city of Milwaukee," she said. "He loved Milwaukee. And if they think of him, I will be happy."
Patty Jerving crochets blankets to raise money for MPD recruit scholarships
What began as just a hobby for Patty is now a way to honor her son and his partner, James Nowak.
"You know all the honors for Peter were over, and I didn’t know what to do with myself, so crocheting was always a way for me to relax," Patty said.
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Officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed in the line of duty in February 2023. Nowak died in a crash last December.
Patty said each blanket takes more than two weeks to crochet. Each purchase helps pay for new scholarships for new recruits.
"We need new officers, there is a lot of officers retiring, so we have to replace those, but we also have to replace those that we’ve lost," she said.
Peter Jerving and James Nowak
At a time when there's a major need for more officers, her hope is Officer Jerving's love for the job can inspire others.
"Peter loved being a police officer. He loved his fellow officers," Patty said. "Police officers, they have something inside of them that no other job satisfies. That’s who I am trying to reach out to."
Patty said she sold roughly half of the blankets on Wednesday. If you are interested in buying one, they can be purchased at the Milwaukee Safety Academy on Teutonia Avenue between Mill and Green Tree.