RAPID CITY, S.D. – A former deputy with the Pennington County Sheriff’s office was shot and killed in the line of duty in Wisconsin on Saturday.
The Pennington County Sheriff’s office says Deputy Kaitlin Leising was shot and killed during a traffic stop in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Leising was on a call investigating the report of a drunk driver.
During a conversation about field sobriety tests, Jeremiah Johnson was “evasive,” drew a handgun and shot Leising in Glenwood, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Minneapolis, the state Department of Justice said.
“After being struck, Deputy Leising discharged her weapon three times, but none of the rounds hit Johnson before he fled to the nearby wooded area,” the agency said.
People in another vehicle began lifesaving measures Saturday, but Leising, 29, was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Authorities say Johnson later fatally shot himself in a nearby wooded area.
Authorities say Johnson later fatally shot himself in a nearby wooded area.
Leising was a former Pennington County Deputy, leaving in 2022 for Wisconsin. The 29-year-old served with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office from February 2020 until January 2022. In the last five months with the PCSO, Leising was a Contract Deputy in Hill City.
The sherrif’s office posted the following on their social media pages Sunday:
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of our sister in law enforcement. Deputy Kaitlin Leising was shot and killed during a traffic stop in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Leising was on a call investigating the report of a drunk driver.
Leising was a former Pennington County Deputy, leaving in 2022 for Wisconsin. The 29-year-old served with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office from February 2020 until January 2022. In the last five months with the PCSO, Leising was a Contract Deputy in Hill City.
“Kaitlin was an outstanding law enforcement officer, positively impacting many in our county.” Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller continued, “Most importantly, she was an outstanding human being.”
Mueller points out the dangers that can exist with every traffic stop: “We thank the men and women who serve and put their lives on the line every single day. Our hearts break with the loss of this brave Deputy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kaitlin’s family at this difficult time.”
