Wisconsin ‘Hero Cop’ Born and Bred in Brooklyn

Call him a Brooklyn-born — no, a Park Slope-born — hero.

Four minutes after police received a frantic call from inside during the mass shooting on Sunday, Police Lt. Brian Murphy, a 21-year veteran cop, was first to the horrific scene, according to .

Lt. Murphy, a 51-year-old ex-Marine who was born and raised in Park Slope and whose father resides in Kensington, ran to help a wounded victim in the parking lot of the Wisconsin temple.

However, while Murphy was helping the victim, the man accused of being the shooter — now identified as — fired his 9mm semi-automatic handgun into Murphy’s body at least nine times at close range. 

“He took nine bullets, and he was still telling [fellow cops] what to do. He is a hero,” James Murphy, Brian’s father and resident of East 5th Street, told The New York Post during an interview. “If he had the opportunity, he would have taken [the shooter] right between the eyes!”

According to Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards, Page’s bullets hit Murphy throughout his extremities and in the neck, Oak Creek Patch reported.

Officers armed with tactical rifles arrived, but the bleeding Murphy refused help from his fellow cops. Instead, Edwards said, the Lieutenant told them to go help the victims inside the temple, where at least six worshipers were dead and three more were injured.

The officers who found Murphy in critical condition refused to leave him behind, bringing Murphy to safety before shooting and killing Page outside the temple.

Since about Murphy’s fearless response to the shooting have earned the nickname “Hero Cop” from his colleagues and the media.

Greenfield Police Chief Brad Wentlandt, who served as the public information coordinator from the scene of the shooting Sunday, applauded Murphy’s actions to Oak Creek Patch.

“Clearly heroic,” Chief Wentlandt said. “The act of when you’re shot, waving officers away from you and telling them to go inside and help other people— he’s a hero.”

From the window of his Kensington home, the elder Murphy declined to comment on his son's heroism, saying that he was not accepting any visitors. On his door was a sticker that read "Father of a Marine." 

But James Murphy confirmed with The Post that his son was indeed the “Hero Cop.”

“That is him, believe me. He was a Marine. He goes by training. He was always a straight shooter, a very impressive kid,” James Murphy, a retired New York City sanitation worker, told The Post.

Lt. Murphy’s father said that his son’s actions are just part of his character.

“He’s a guy who would do you a favor if he knew you for 10 minutes,” he said. 

According to Oak Creek Patch, as of Monday, Murphy was still in critical condition after undergoing life-saving surgery at Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin.

Murphy's family released a statement during a press conference held at the hospital Monday afternoon.

“We are grateful for so many who addressed Brian’s needs at the scene and continue to do so at the hospital," Murphy's family said in a statement as Oak Creek Patch reported. "As we stand by Brian and pray for his recovery, we extend condolences to the families who lost loved ones."

A Facebook page was set up to honor Lt. Brian Murphy, his selfless and heroic acts. “Lt. Brian Murphy” is also trending on Twitter.

The Sikh Human Rights Group has pledged a $10,000 award to Lt. Murphy in recognition of his heroism.

Don’t miss on the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, ranging from stories about the victims, the gunman and reactions from the community during and after Sunday’s massacre.

If you know or knew Lt. Brian Murphy from his Brooklyn days, please E-mail Will.Yakowicz@Patch.com.