Merrill Police Department

05/16/2026

Just a reminder of the Merrill Police Benevolent Association concert TONIGHT at the Merrill High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6pm and concert starts at 7pm. Tickets will be available at the door as well. Hope to see you there!

05/15/2026

During National Police Week, May 15th is designated as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Signed into law in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, it serves as a lasting tribute to the Peace Officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Captain Elmer Krueger was shot in the line of duty on July 12th 1952 and succumbed to his injuries on July 19th, 1952. Captain Krueger remains the only Officer from the Merrill Police Department to have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Please take a moment today to remember the sacrifice that Captain Krueger and all of the law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty have made.

05/14/2026

This morning we were proud to celebrate the life of Mike "Mikee" Kunkel with his family and friends. There are so many great stories to share about the life of Mikee and we encourage you to continue sharing them with friends and family. We are going to share one that demonstrated what was most cherished to him. It is but one story that ultimately changed our department for the better in the long term.

Mikee was a senior Patrol Officer (PO2). By no fault of his own or anyone else's, our shift structure demanded he couldn't maintain senior officer rank/pay and stay on day shift where another senior officer was placed. Mikee wanted a more normal family life and voluntarily took a cut in rank/pay in order to stay on day shift where he could better spend that time with his family. That was a sacrifice we all witnessed and it didn't sit well with most people paying attention. Eventually, and it probably was after Mikee retired, our structure was changed to make sure that was a less likely possibility of ever happening again. Whenever possible, officers need to be recognized and compensated for their years of service, no matter what.

Mikee showed us that he wasn't just a solid officer. He was a great husband, a better father, and an even better grandfather. We are grateful to the Kunkel family for sharing him with us. To Mikee, we thank you for your service, your sacrifices, your words of wisdom, your giving nature, your partnership and everything else we can't possibly list here. You will be missed!

https://www.taylorstinewaid.com/obituaries/michael-mikee-kunkel

05/11/2026

This week is National Police Week where we honor the fallen sworn and the sworn officers that currently serve this community.

This year, more than ever, their commitment to this city is on full display and we have quite the amazing team to thank for that. Each person brings something unique to the table and they will continue to bring additional strengths as they develop with the passage of time. They serve Merrill admirably and consistently to a level that most communities don't ever get to experience. We are certainly fortunate and grateful to have them watching over us all.

A unique part of being a law enforcement officer in Merrill is the public support we receive frequently, if not daily. I can't tell you how many times our officers are approached, thanked or encouraged by members of the general public simply for the idea of the job they do, much less a specific outcome. I encourage you to keep doing that. I encourage you to get to know them. I encourage you to embrace them as you have done so many of us. This is YOUR Merrill Police Department. ~ Chief Bennett

05/05/2026

Reminder, we still have some tickets left at the PD front desk if you are interested. It's coming up fast!

05/05/2026

This particular scam has hit our community as well. Be vigilant and look after your circle. Always, if you have any questions about solicitations, please feel free to reach out for a little PD assistance.

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨

We are seeing an increase in scam text messages and calls claiming you have unpaid toll fees, traffic citations, jury duty obligations, or even bail payments. These messages often demand immediate payment to avoid enforcement.

⚠️ Know this: The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office or any legitimate law enforcement agency will NEVER text or call you demanding payment or threatening immediate action.

👉 And a quick reality check: Milwaukee doesn’t even have toll roads — so that “unpaid toll” text is your first clue it’s a scam.

If you receive one of these messages:
• Do not click any links or scan QR codes
• Do not provide personal or financial information
• Delete the message and report it as spam

✔️ You can verify legitimate citations through the Milwaukee County Clerk of Courts at (414) 278-5362 or the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Desk at (414) 278-4712.

Stay alert and help protect others by sharing this information.

04/23/2026

This week is Administrative Professionals Week and we have 3 of the absolute best! They are the first responders of our front office and often the first people you work with when you stop in or call us direct. They process nearly everything that is produced, stored, or that leaves this office. It’s quite amazing the volume of work that they handle and manage. Thank you Jenny, Marci, and Heather for your contributions to the City of Merrill. We couldn’t do it without you!

03/16/2026

The Merrill Police Department is looking for qualified, dependable, and coachable candidates for the position of Police Officer to fill two vacancies (one conditionally filled). Currently, and in the next few years, a significant number of the Department's officers and staff will be within the retirement window. This is a huge opportunity for individual and organizational growth as the department evolves over the next decade.

03/13/2026

The anticipated snowfalls for this weekend have produced the conditions to declare a Snow Emergency. The Snow Emergency will be in effect from 12:00AM on Sunday March 15, 2026 through noon on Monday March 16, 2026. The Street Dept. crews will likely be making multiple passes given the projected accumulations. Good luck, be safe, and check on your circle!

Update 3/14/26:
Garbage pickup will be delayed by one day.

02/15/2026

Today is National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day and we have two to be appreciative of! SRO Nicole Cimino is primarily assigned to MHS and then Washington School and SRO John Sass is primarily assigned to PRMS and then Kate Goodrich School. Both were new to the roles at the beginning of this school year. Their assigned roles have been a little bit of the expected, a little bit of discovery, a little bit reinvention, a little bit of new team dynamics, and a heck of a lot rewarding for those of us that get to watch them go to work every day. They will continue adapting to the needs of the district, staff and students to make sure the learning environment is a safe and constructive place for our treasures to be. Thank you for your service Nicole and John!