St. Croix County Sheriff’s deputy killed by gunshot, suspect dead

UPDATE: Authorities have now identified the deceased officer as 29-year-old Deputy Kaitie Leising.

At approximately 6:15 pm on Saturday, Kaitie Leising, a St. Croix County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a report of a potential drunk driver in a ditch. Shortly after arrival in the township of Glenwood, Wisconsin, the deputy reported shots fired.

The deputy sustained a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital where she later died. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the involved individual fled and was later found deceased in a wooded are with a gunshot wound.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating the incident. Numerous neighboring law enforcement agencies, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, and a DCI Crime Response Specialist are assisting the investigation. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, there is no threat to the community.

Deputy Leising had approximately 3 years of law enforcement service.

DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this investigation. Investigative reports will be turned over to the St. Croix County District Attorney when the investigation concludes.

This is the third incident within the past month where a law enforcement officer died in the line of duty in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

On April 8, two Wisconsin police officers were killed during a traffic stop.

On April 15, a Pope County deputy was killed in a shooting in Minnesota that wounded two other law enforcement officers.