Brave Officers Rush Into Burning Building to Save Residents

Milwaukee Police Department
Office of Media and Communications

Two Milwaukee Police officers were treated for smoke inhalation after rushing into a burning east side apartment building to save residents. At about 4 a.m. on November 17 Officer C.J. Bennett was on patrol when he heard an audible alarm and saw fire coming from a building in the 1700 block of W. Lafayette Place. Officer Bennett immediately called for help and ran into the building to alert the residents of the fire.

Officer Shelli Lemke arrived on the scene and rushed to the second floor of the building. While crawling on her hands and knees because of the think smoke she yelled for anyone that may be left in the building to get out.

Officer Bennett and Lemke have both been released from local hospitals after treatment for smoke inhalation.

Investigators believe that the fire was caused by a cooking accident.