It’s a time for new beginnings and renewed hope around the baseball world as MLB teams converge on Florida and Arizona for the start of spring training.
One of these teams, the Milwaukee Brewers, reported to camp on Wednesday while also recognizing the brutal Wisconsin winter they were leaving.
It’s in this that the Brewers themselves paid their respects to slain Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner. A husband and a father of a young son, the 35-year-old Rittner was shot and killed February 6.
As the entire city paid its respects to Rittner on Wednesday, the Brewers did what they could from afar in Arizona. That included a jersey with Rittner‘s name on it in the locker room.
We’re sending all our love and prayers to the family and friends of Matthew Rittner, a Milwaukee police officer recently killed while serving his beloved community. God bless you all pic.twitter.com/pV09wuVAgh
— Brent Suter (@bruter24) February 13, 2019
A former United States Marine, Rittner’s death has shocked the entire Milwaukee community. He’s been in public service with the MPD for the past 17 years and served this nation abroad.
Rittner also has a history with the Brewers. He got married at Miller Park back in September of 2017 and threw out the first pitch in a game between the Marlins and Brewers last year.
It’s times like these that it’s important to remember that we have everyday heroes on our streets doing what the can and putting themselves on the line to protect our communities.