5 years later, kites fly over Veterans Park honoring fallen Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Michalski

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Tuesday, July 25, dozens of people gathered at Veterans Park in Milwaukee and flew kites to remember the life and legacy of fallen Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Michalski.

Michalski was killed in 2018 while trying to arrest 30-year-old Jonathan Copeland Jr. on drug and domestic violence charges.

Copeland shot the veteran officer.

"We are definitely still healing, we will never forget or get over the loss of Mike, but today and days like this, with a beautiful day, with our friends and family, we get to celebrate his life," said Paul Lough, inspector with the Criminal Investigation Bureau for the Milwaukee Police Department.

The kite-flying ceremony was open to the public. Veterans Park was one of Michalski's favorite spots.

"Mike loved to fly kites, walk on the lakefront, walk with his dogs, and this is something we do in his memory to celebrate his life, it's what he would want us to be doing," said Lough.

And while kites flew at Veteran's Park, a hometown bar raised money for the Wisconsin Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (Wisconsin C.O.P.S), an organization that supports families of law enforcement officers who are impacted when their loved ones die in the line of duty.

O'Lydias Bar and Grill donated a portion of its profits from its food and beverage sales to the Wisconsin C.O.P.S Foundation.

This is the fourth year people have flown kites honoring Michalski's memory.