Manitowoc Police Department, Wisconsin
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 23, 1998
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 051
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 23, 1998
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Dale TenHaken was shot and killed after making a traffic stop on the driver of a car for not having license plates or its head lights on, at an apartment complex.
During the traffic stop Officer TenHaken radioed for backup. Responding officers found him laying face down between two vehicles with a gunshot wound to the back. Two juvenile suspects with outstanding warrants were later arrested in a neighboring county.
The suspect who shot Officer TenHaken was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The accomplice was sentenced to 22 years.
Officer TenHaken is survived by his fiancée.