End of Watch: Trooper Bradley Ritger, Wisconsin State Patrol

Incident: Monday, September 21, 2026, on Interstate 94 in Dunn County, Wisconsin. End of watch: Friday, October 2, 2026. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin State Patrol announced the line-of-duty death in a joint statement on Saturday, October 3.

Trooper Bradley Ritger, 29, died Friday of injuries he sustained on September 21, when he fell from an Interstate 94 bridge deck after deploying a tire deflation device during a vehicle pursuit in Dunn County. He had served nearly five years with the State Patrol, assigned primarily to Dunn County in the Northwest region, after three years with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. His badge number was 630.

The pursuit began when another trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for excessive speed and reckless driving. The State Patrol said the same vehicle had fled an officer earlier that evening.

Ritger joined the pursuit and deployed a tire deflation device on a bridge deck on I-94 west of the Dunn County–Eau Claire County line at about 4:55 a.m. He was moving to a position of cover when he fell from the bridge to the roadway below. Officers rendered aid at the scene, including CPR, and he was taken to a hospital. According to the criminal complaint as reported by WEAU, he had a pulse but labored breathing when officers reached the roadway.

The pursued vehicle struck the deflation device and came to a stop. Officers carried out a high-risk traffic stop and took the driver into custody without further incident.

In an update on Thursday, September 24, the State Patrol said Ritger remained in critical condition, had shown improvement in the emergency room and the critical care unit, and had undergone “many surgeries as well as a multitude of testing.”

Court records reported Wednesday, September 23, show Martell Nicole Tolbert Mitchell, 47, of Minneapolis, charged in Dunn County with attempting to flee or elude an officer, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession with intent to deliver cocaine of more than 5 grams and not more than 15 grams, possession with intent to deliver THC of 200 grams or less, and felony bail jumping. A $70,000 cash bond was set. Whether the charges will change following Ritger’s death has not been announced.

The criminal complaint as reported by WEAU puts the pursued vehicle at about 100 mph and the pursuing patrol cruiser at 125 mph.

Investigators have not determined whether Ritger was struck by the driver’s vehicle. The State Patrol and the Wisconsin Department of Justice are investigating.

State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said, “The entire law enforcement community mourns the loss of a brave and dedicated colleague.” In its announcement, the State Patrol said Ritger “was a dedicated public servant, and approached every situation with professionalism, integrity, and a genuine commitment to serving others.”

Governor Tony Evers said, “Our hearts break for Trooper Ritger and his family,” and said he would issue an executive order lowering flags in Ritger’s honor once funeral arrangements are finalized.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the family and have not been released. The Wisconsin Troopers Association has established a fundraising campaign for the trooper’s family.

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