Police officer shot in Oconto Falls

Update

A 29-year-old Oconto Falls woman is being held on police charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide after she allegedly shot a police officer on Aug. 6.

The female officer was transported to a Green Bay area hospital by the Eagle III rescue helicopter and “is now in stable condition, and thank God for that,” Oconto County Sheriff Todd Skarban said during a news conference Friday afternoon.

Several agencies responded to the 100 block of Elm Street at about 10:30 a.m. after several 911 calls, Skarban said. Police tape surrounded Parkview Apartments II on Friday afternoon and the block was cordoned off.

The officer, who was responding to a report of suspicious activity and a possible kidnapping, radioed that she had been shot and the dispatch center received a flurry of 911 hangup calls right after that, the sheriff said.

The suspect was arrested at the scene and taken to the Oconto County Jail pending charges and an initial court appearance next week.

Because the incident involved an Oconto Falls police officer, the sheriff’s department will take the lead on the investigation with the help of the state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), he said.

“They’re a fantastic resource, they help us all the time,” Skarban said.

On behalf of Oconto Falls Police Chief Brad Olsen, Skarban expressed thanks to the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center, patrol and investigative divisions and correctional staff, as well as the Green Bay, Gillett and Oconto police departments, Shawano County, Brown County and Marinette County Sheriff’s Offices, the Wisconsin State Patrol and Department of Natural Resources, the Eagle III pilots and DCI.

“We also want to thank our community,” Skarban said, pausing to collect his emotions, “and our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, for all their messages and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with our officer as we hope for a speedy recovery. God was on our side today.”

Skarban said the goal of all law officers is to make it home every day.

“Thankfully this officer has been reunited with her family and is resting comfortably in the hospital right now,” he said.

“The support that we receive from our community is second to none,” Skarban said. “Across the country you hear law enforcement agencies being vilified and the like. We don’t experience that in Oconto County. We have a strong, strong, relationship with our people, because we are the people of Oconto County. We are woven in the fabric, many of us born and raised here, and we fight to better our community every single day.”

Earlier story

A police officer has been taken to a Green Bay area hospital after being shot Friday morning in the City of Oconto Falls.

According to a news release from Oconto County Sheriff Todd Skarban, the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. and a suspect was taken into custody.

This was an isolated incident, and there is no further threat to the public, Skarban said.

No further information, including the officer's identity, was being released as of Friday afternoon.