On the evening of June 17, 2019, John Hetland, a 49-year-old Caucasian male, was off-duty from his job as a Racine police officer, unwinding at a local establishment called Teezer’s Tavern. An ordinary night took a harrowing turn when a masked man, armed with a semi-automatic handgun, entered the bar with the intent to rob it. The assailant, wearing dark clothing, approached the bar and demanded money from the bartender.
True to his nature as a protector, Hetland, a 24-year veteran of the police force, did not hesitate to intervene. He vaulted over the bar to confront the robber, initiating a physical struggle to disarm him. The altercation was brief, lasting only a matter of seconds before the suspect pushed Hetland back and fired a single, fatal shot into his chest.
The gunman fled the scene, leaving a community in shock and mourning the loss of a beloved officer and father of two who was nearing retirement. A massive manhunt was launched, involving more than a dozen law enforcement agencies, to bring the perpetrator to justice. Investigators worked tirelessly for ten days, following leads and analyzing evidence. The critical breakthrough came from DNA evidence that was collected from Hetland's shirt and the scene of the crime. This evidence led authorities to identify their suspect.
On June 27, 2019, just a day after Officer Hetland was laid to rest, police arrested 26-year-old Dalquavis Ward in Milwaukee. In a symbolic gesture, the arresting officers used Hetland's own handcuffs to take him into custody. Ward had a significant criminal history and had been released from federal prison only four days before the fatal robbery. He was subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
During the trial, Dalquavis Ward maintained his innocence, but the evidence against him was overwhelming. The prosecution presented the DNA findings that linked him directly to the struggle with Officer Hetland. In September 2020, a jury found Ward guilty on all counts. He was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring that the man who took the life of a hero would never again pose a threat to the community he had sworn to protect.
