KENOSHA COUNTY -- Family members and friends on Thursday, July 14th said their final goodbyes to a young public safety officer. Town of Salem Public Safety Officer Michael Josua Ventura was killed in a crash on Friday, July 8th.
Loved ones gathered for Ventura's funeral on Thursday.
Michael Josua Ventura's funeral
It says something about Ventura that even though his time as a public safety officer was brief, he inspired deep affection in his co-workers.
"I became so close to this man and his family over a course of five weeks that I never really prepared as a chief for this," David Shortess, Town of Salem director of public safety said.
Ventura finished his police training at Kenosha's Gateway Technical College in May, and then joined the Town of Salem's Public Safety squad.
"The kind of guy that I really want on my team, you know? That I really value. And unfortunately he just didn't get the opportunity to continue to grow and move on," Shortess said.
While on duty on Friday, July 8th, Ventura was headed west on State Highway 50 with his emergency lights activated. Near County Highway B, his vehicle left the roadway and traveled into the ditch.
Michael Josua Ventura
Michael Josua Ventura's funeral
Ventura was ejected from the vehicle. Flight for Life took the 33-year-old man to Froedtert Hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
"While everybody was still trying to wrap their heads around the senseless stuff that happened in Dallas, the next day, this happened to us. He was about giving. He was about helping. He believed in a bigger cause than himself. He was the most selfless human being I`ve ever had the opportunity to know," Tony Hendley, a Lake County corrections officer and close friend of Ventura said.
Michael Josua Ventura
"This isn't the first. It probably won't be the last. But this one did hurt the worst," Shortess said.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Michael Josua Ventura