Town of Madison, WI – Town of Madison Police Sergeant Jessica “Jess” Fischer died her own hand on Aug. 10, after she placed a final call to the agency’s dispatch center.

“When she came in she was always happy, always smiling and a joy to work with,” Town of Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory said in an interview with WISC.

“It was a total shock to everybody,” Chief Gregory said. “None of us knew the depression that she was obviously going through, and she hid it from us very well.”

“It’s a lot of bad things that we’re seeing and – quite honestly – not really dealing with,” the chief added. “The cops need to know that yes, we put on that face when we’re out on the street and we have to do our job, but yet we can’t let those emotions back up into us… The resources are out there, we just have to be able to get law enforcement to be willing to reach out and ask for help.”

Sgt. Fischer, 43, had been with the department for 13 years. Since her death, community members have adorned her patrol vehicle with flowers in her memory.

“I’ll be honest, I go out there and put my hands on the car and pray a couple times a day,” Chief Gregory told WISC, his voice cracking. “She’s going to be very missed.”

During her time with the department, Sgt. Fischer worked as a patrol officer and as a detective before she was promoted to sergeant in 2016, according to her obituary.

Sgt. Fischer, who headed the agency’s Shop With a Cop program, received several commendations for her service over the years, as well as many letters of thanks from members of the community.

“Her service to the community was beyond reproach, and she will truly be missed,” her obituary read.

Sgt. Fischer leaves behind her wife, Laurie Weaver, and their daughter, Lillian Grace, as well as her parents, sister, and many friends and extended family members.

She was laid to rest on Wednesday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Town of Madison Police Sergeant Jessica “Jess” Fischer, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.