In the late hours of September 23, 1998, a routine traffic stop in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, turned into a tragedy that would deeply scar the community. Dale Robin Tenhaken, a 27-year-old Caucasian male and a dedicated officer with the Manitowoc Police Department, was on patrol when he pulled over a vehicle near the corner of Reed Avenue and Johnston Drive.
The car was being driven without its headlights on and lacked license plates, prompting the stop at an apartment complex around 11:30 p.m.
Having served with the department for five years, Officer Tenhaken approached the vehicle and began to question the occupants. Inside the car were Jason Halda, Michael Watts, and two female juveniles. As Tenhaken was communicating over his radio to request backup, Halda, who was in the driver's seat, produced a handgun and fired multiple shots at the unsuspecting officer. Despite being grievously wounded, Tenhaken was able to complete his call for assistance. Responding officers arrived to a grim scene, finding him lying face down between two cars with a fatal gunshot wound to his back. He was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
The investigation into the cold-blooded murder of Officer Tenhaken was swift. The suspects fled the scene, but their freedom was short-lived. A manhunt ensued, and just before 3:45 a.m. on September 24, Jason Halda and Michael Watts were apprehended in the neighboring Sheboygan County. Both had outstanding warrants at the time of the traffic stop, a fact that likely contributed to their violent desperation to avoid capture.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of justice for the slain officer. Jason Halda, the shooter, was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His accomplice, Michael Watts, was also convicted for his role in the crime and received a life sentence. The two teenage girls who were in the back of the car testified against Halda, stating they witnessed him shoot the officer. The senseless act of violence not only cut short a promising life and career but also left a lasting impact on the Manitowoc community and the law enforcement fraternity.
