Man Who Shot, Killed Police Officer Sentenced To Life In Prison

MILWAUKEE, WI — On Thursday morning, Jordan Fricke, the man who shot and killed Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner, was sentenced to life in prison. In July, a jury determined that Fricke was guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

The Morning Of February 6

Authorities in Milwaukee County said Fricke fired four shots at Milwaukee police officers on the morning of Feb. 6 as they attempted to break his apartment door down in order to conduct a search warrant.

Investigators say one of those gunshots, fired from Fricke's AK-47 pistol, pierced the body of officer Matthew Rittner near his left shoulder, traveled through his left lung, his aorta and his right lung. Rittner was given emergency treatment at the scene and rushed to Froedtert Hospital. He did not survive.

Rittner served 17 years with the Milwaukee Police department, starting as a police aide in 2001. He served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. The 35-year old leaves behind a wife and young son.

On the morning of Feb. 6, Milwaukee police were assigned to conduct a "no knock" search warrant at Fricke's apartment that morning. Police say they employed an informant to determine that Fricke was a small-time drug dealer and a weapons trafficker.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, the informant told police that Fricke would rely on associates to legally purchase firearms at gun shows. Fricke would then turn around and sell those guns on the street for a profit.

That morning, nine members of Milwaukee Police Tactical Enforcement Unit approached Fricke's apartment located on the 2900 block of S. 12th Street, police said.

Wearing black ballistic helmets, and protective vests with the word "Police" printed in block letters, the officers approached the 2-flat from the back alley, according to police.
With two blows, the tactical team breached the building's back door on the first floor. Rittner was second in line, carrying a one-man ram that would later be used to breach the second-floor door leading to Fricke's apartment, reports said.

Police said Fricke was asleep in his apartment with his girlfriend at his side as officers climbed the steps. As officers yelled "search warrant, Milwaukee police," Rittner delivered three blows to the apartment door, blasting a hole in its center, according to the complaint.

According to police, Fricke admitted the ram's blows to the door woke him from his sleep. Police said Fricke admitted to grabbing an AK-47, seeing someone through the hole in the door and firing four gunshots through it. When questioned by police, Fricke admitted his AK-47 pistol was a powerful weapon, and that if anyone were to be struck by it, it would probably mean death, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said officers on the scene heard the four shots fired from inside. They watched as Rittner dropped to the floor after being struck. Reports indicated that the lead officer then stepped toward the hole in the door, aimed his rifle into the apartment and saw Fricke standing with his hands in the air. The team hurried Rittner to ground-level, rendering emergency aid as an ambulance raced to the scene. He made it to Froedtert clinging to life, reports said.

Rittner Remembered

Those who went to school with him conveyed his hardworking attitude, contagious positive attitude and respected his decision to serve his country.

Rittner graduated from Greenfield High School in 2001. On Thursday, school officials who either taught him or went to school with him reached out to share their memories.

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Former Greenfield High School teacher and tennis coach John Thomsen recalled Matthew as a pleasant, easygoing student with a great attitude.

“Matthew was thoughtful, kind, respectful, hardworking and always positive. As hardworking as Matthew was, he was also able to keep things "light" and really enjoyed his teachers, coaches, teammates and friends. Matthew's smile and overall positive disposition was contagious. It is no surprise that Matthew chose to serve his country, community and a calling greater than himself,”
said Thomsen.

Teacher Kevin Murphy, recalled Matthew as an inspiring student-athlete who was a role model for his classmates and was always eager to learn something new. “He came into the classroom or into the gym every day focusing on how to get better. He was a sponge and took all of it in. He was willing to work hard to rise to new academic and athletic levels,” said Murphy.

Greenfield Superintendent Lisa Elliott, who was a teacher when Rittner attended Greenfield High School, as well as a former classmate of Police Chief Alfonso Morales, issued the following statement:

On behalf of the entire school district community, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Matthew Rittner of the Milwaukee Police Department.

We’re very proud of our graduates for their achievements and contributions to the community, particularly our graduates who serve in law enforcement. We appreciate the tremendous responsibility of our law enforcement officers, and we share in their grief for the loss of Officer Rittner.

Images Courtesy Greenfield School District