Patrick Francis Kennedy, the eldest of a large family of ten siblings, was born in the bustling city of Detroit, Michigan, to Angus Patrick and Catherine Ann Kennedy, a family that would have a profound impact on his life's journey. As a teenager, he was sent to St. Lawrence Seminary School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he would exhibit remarkable basketball skills, earning him recognition and instilling hope in his parents that he would continue his education at Marian College, potentially paving the way for him to follow in the footsteps of his brother and become a Catholic priest, his older-brotherly demeanor a testament to his natural sense of responsibility and leadership, a quality that would serve him well throughout his life.
Patrick's academic odyssey commenced at St. Lawrence Seminary School, where he meticulously laid the groundwork for his future academic pursuits. Upon completing his high school education, he embarked on a two-year tenure at Marian College, where he persistently cultivated his intellectual inquisitiveness and refined his critical thinking abilities.
Patrick's academic path took a dramatic and unforeseen turn when he made the bold decision to put his educational pursuits on hold and instead opt for a career in law enforcement. This pivotal and life-changing choice was motivated by his deep-seated desire to find a way to integrate his long-term aspirations to pursue education or social work after retirement with the opportunity to serve his community as a dedicated and passionate police officer.
Patrick's decision to embark on this particular career trajectory was profoundly influenced by the illustrious examples set by his father and great-grandfather, who had both traversed similar professional pathways. By emulating the noble footsteps of these esteemed predecessors, Patrick aspired to leave a lasting and beneficial imprint on his community, simultaneously laying the groundwork for a deeply fulfilling post-retirement career in education or social work.
Patrick's remarkable journey underwent a profound transformation when he made the bold decision to relocate to the vibrant metropolis of Milwaukee, a city that would serve as the backdrop for his remarkable career in law enforcement. With unwavering dedication and unrelenting perseverance, Patrick swiftly rose through the ranks, earning a reputation as a seasoned and astute detective with a special expertise in the meticulous investigation of heinous violent crimes.
On a sweltering summer evening, July 22, 1991, at precisely 11:30 pm, Patrick received a distress call for emergency backup at the Oxford Apartments, where a shocking and gruesome murder was allegedly unfolding amidst a frenzied police struggle. It was at this pivotal moment that he encountered the notorious and infamous Jeffrey Dahmer, surrounded by an overwhelming abundance of incriminating evidence that would ultimately lead to the historic arrest that would forever etch his name in the annals of justice.
