Patrolman Dale Robin TenHaken
26 years ago today, the Manitowoc Police Department lost an officer after a routine traffic stop.
At 11:30 p.m. on September 23rd, 1998, Officer Dale TenHaken conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with its lights off and no license plates.
Jason Halda was behind the wheel, while Michael Watts and two juvenile females sat in the passenger seats.
Halda pulled out a gun and shot Officer Ten Haken multiple times, but the officer was able to call for backup.
He was found by responding officers facedown between two vehicles and later died from his injuries.
Halda and Watts were found and arrested just before 3:45 on September 24th and were convicted in the case.
Both were sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Ten Haken’s name is etched into the Law Enforcement Memorial, located outside of the Manitowoc County Courthouse, along with six other officers who died in the line of duty.
They include Marshal Edmund E Hanke of Kiel, Officer Leo Roque and Officer Thomas Dodge of Two Rivers, Officer Fred Mueller and Officer Lawrence Metsker of Manitowoc, and Deputy David C. Hibbard of the Sheriff’s Department.
