As the investigation into this week’s fatal shooting of a state patrol trooper continues…members of the Fond du Lac police department are dealing with another loss of a fellow officer. Just four days before the shooting Fond du Lac police gathered at the Hamilton Park police memorial to mark the 4 year anniversary of the shooting incident that claimed the life of police officer Craig Birkholz. Fond du Lac police chief Bill Lamb says a number of officers pn the force were good friends with state patrol trooper Trevor Casper. “There’s a combination of anger and sorrow and looking for answers,” Lamb told WFDL news. “Its tragic that anybody has to find themselves dealing with that, most noticeable the Wisconsin state patrol family and trooper Casper’s family.” Lamb says he believes Casper’s actions probably saved more lives. “Yes, the fact that this incident ended before the suspect had gotten into an adjoining apartment complex, the shopping area right in the northwest part of the city. That most certainly would have significantly changed the overall dynamics of this,” Lamb said. Lamb says nationwide 2014 marked the 5th consecutive year that ambush fatal attacks were the number one cause of on-duty officer deaths. Meanwhile, chief Lamb confirms the suspect Steven Snyder was arrested 19 years ago in Fond du Lac following a racially motivated fight.
