Patrolman Dale Robin TenHaken
On this day 27 years ago, the Manitowoc Police Department lost one of its own.
Officer Dale TenHaken was on patrol in the area of Reed Avenue and Johnston Drive at 11:30 p.m. when he pulled a vehicle over for not having license plates and for not having its headlights on.
The driver, Jason Halda, pulled a gun on Officer TenHaken and fired multiple rounds, striking Officer TenHaken multiple times.
Despite his injuries, Officer TenHaken was able to call for backup, which found him facedown between two vehicles shortly thereafter.
Dale TenHaken later died from his injuries, ending his five years with the Manitowoc Police Department.
Halda and Michael Watts, who was also in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, were located and arrested roughly four hours after the shooting.
Halda was convicted in a jury trial on one count of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, and was sentenced to life in prison.
He attempted to have his case reviewed in 2022, but the court of appeals denied that request.
In a previous interview with Police Chief Nick Reimer, who was friends with Officer TenHaken, he called in an unfortunate event, which the department will “always try to make sure…never happens again.”
Officer TenHaken’s name is etched into the Law Enforcement Memorial, located outside of the Manitowoc County Courthouse, and his badge number, 051, will be forever emblazoned on Manitowoc Police Department squad cars.
