MILWAUKEE — A memorial outside Milwaukee Police Department’s (MPD) District 2 building continues to grow, as people drop off flowers, balloons, American flags and letters to honor fallen MPD Officer Kendall Corder.

The 32-year-old, who was an officer with MPD for six years, died Sunday after being shot in the line of duty Thursday.

Thursday night, Corder and his partner were responding to a call about a person with a weapon when they were unexpectedly fired upon in an alley. The other officer survived.

Corder was from Cudahy, Wis., a suburb just south of Milwaukee.

“He went to Cudahy High School and played football,” said Robert Tate, the owner of Lakeside Pub and Grill in Cudahy, where Corder was a regular. “He would come in after his shifts, or when he was off duty.”

A photo of Corder now sits on the bar inside the restaurant. A candle glows next to it, along with a note referencing his end of watch as June 29, 2025.

A photo of fallen MPD Officer Kendall Corder now sits on the bar inside Lakeside Pub and Grill. A candle glows next to it, along with a note referencing his end of watch as June 29, 2025. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

Staff and customers were devastated when they got the news that their friend was killed while on duty.

“We just feel empty,” said Tate. “It’s like we have a hole in our heart.”

Robert Tate owns Lakeside Pub and Grill in Cudahy where MPD Officer Kendall Corder was considered family. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

They described Corder as a gentle giant, who always made sure everyone was safe.

“He would always stay for the female bartenders, to make sure they were comfortable working their late-night hours,” said Tate, who is planning to host a memorial event at the bar. “He was beloved and like by everybody.”

Across town, people who utilize the Clinton Rose Senior Center on Milwaukee’s North Side organized a rally in honor of Corder. The senior center is just a few miles from where he was shot Thursday.

Longtime community members felt compelled to stand up and raise their voices against senseless gun violence in the city.

“He was a beautiful young man,” said Johnnie May Williams, 87. “He was trying to help us in the Black neighborhood. Why is this all going on?”

May Williams is 87-years-old and has lived in Milwaukee for her entire life. She’s one of the people who rallied outside the Clinton Rose Senior Center on Tuesday. 

Johnnie May Williams is 87-years-old and has lived in Milwaukee for her entire life. She’s one of the people who rallied outside the Clinton Rose Senior Center on Tuesday. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

“We are trying to do our part as seniors to get out and let people know: Stop the violence. Stop the shootings. Stop hurting people,” said Alice Stokes, who also joined the rally.

“We are trying to do our part as seniors to get out and let people know: Stop the violence. Stop the shootings. Stop hurting people,” said Alice Stokes, who also joined the rally Tuesday. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

“My heart fell because he had a family,” said Charlotte Lewis, who was at the rally Tuesday. “He was a family man. His mom, sisters, cousins, brothers and aunties, they love him. They had no right to take his life. They didn’t give it to him; they shouldn’t have taken it.”