Community and MPD grieve the loss of young officer
TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
On Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, the Merrill Police Department (MPD) issued the following statement: “It is with great sadness the Merrill Police Department announces the untimely death of active duty Police Officer Riley Kurtz, due to medical complications.”
“Officer Kurtz was a three-year veteran of the Merrill Police Department and Kronenwetter Police Department,” the statement concluded.
Officer Riley Benjamin Kurtz died on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. He was off-duty at the time. He was 24 years old.
A multi-jurisdictional procession of law enforcement vehicles and squad cars escorted the body of Officer Kurtz from Aspirus Wausau Hospital back to the Waid Funeral Home in Merrill early Monday evening.
A complete obituary can be found here on our website.
A celebration of life for Officer Kurtz will be held on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the service to begin at 2:00 p.m., both in the Merrill High School Auditorium, with Law Enforcement Honors.
The Merrill Foto News will include a tribute to Officer Riley Kurtz in next week’s newspaper.
