Action to Honor Deputy Kaitie Leising -- Immediately after Deputy Kaitie Leising was shot and killed in the line of duty on May 6, 2023, Cathy Borgschatz and Karen Humphrey joined forces to approach the sheriff about ways to honor Kaitie, including a fundraiser. At that time, they did not have a clear vision of what would be involved or where the money would go; but after a meeting with Sheriff Scott Knudson, 'Take Action. Honor Kaitie.' (TAHK) was born, and the group's three initiatives were set. Click Read More to read the details of the three initiatives.
The three initiatives of TAHK are to:
1) Support Kaitie’s family and the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard traveling to Washington DC to the Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony in May 2024. They expect to send 30 people for this project at $3,000 each.
2) Provide emotional wellness training to St Croix County law enforcement officers and their families. The objective of this support is to help officers recommit to the job and to help children who worry about their officer parent, which is very understandable after what happened to Kaitie.
3) Build a St. Croix County Fallen Officer Memorial at the Government Center to honor fallen officers. Kaitie Leising is the fourth officer who died while on duty in St. Croix County. The first was in 1900 during a train robbery. The next two officers died in the 1950’s. The planned memorial will cost $600,000. They currently have raised $160,000. There will be three bronze plates with the names of the people or companies who donate $2,500 or more. Businesses in River Falls are currently donating some of their profits to the project. TAHK has held 19 fundraising events so far. On April 6 they will have a gala in New Richmond. Their first event was marching in the River Falls Days parade.
Donations can be sent to St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, 1101 Carmichael Road, Suite G200, Hudson, Wisconsin 54016. Checks should be made out to Deputy Kaitie Leising Remembrance Fund.
About the Speakers: Karen Humphrey retired from the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office as the Jail Captain after more than 30 years of service. Karen has been retired from the sheriff's office for ten years. Cathy Borgschatz retired from the sheriff's office as the Chief Deputy after 26 years of service, retiring 1-1/2 years ago and ten days after Kaitie started her career with the sheriff's office.