Diener
UNION GROVE â John Hetland and Jennifer Diener were more than just officers in the Racine Police Department. Both were parents of students who still attend Union Grove High School.
To honor the fallen officers â Hetland was killed while trying to stop a robbery at a bar, Diener died after an off-duty car crash â students at Union Grove are donating $15,000 to the Racine Police Department.
Members of the high schoolâs National Honor Society collected community donations in recognition of the fact that Hetland and Diener were public servants and part of the UGHS community.
Natalie Vitek, NHS president, said leaders of the student organization wanted to make a donation to the police department as a show of support for the students who had suffered family tragedies.
RACINE â When Art Howell joined the Racine Police Department, the city was entering one of its darkest times. Upon his retirement Wednesday after 37 years with the RPD, Racine has been experiencing record lows, year after year, in major crimes since Howell became chief of police.
Art Howell s father, who died in 1995, worked at Case. Howell kept a miniature Case tractor in his office to honor his dad. ADAM ROGAN,
Howell grew up on Davis Place, just south of Downtown Racine. As he was graduating from high school in 1980, a recession was sweeping across the Midwest. Stable industrial jobs went overseas or south of the border. Unemployment rates, especially among workers of color, shot up.
Man convicted of killing Racine police officer John Hetland sentenced to life in prison cbs58.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cbs58.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Family members speak out
Hunter Hetland was 15 when his father was murdered. His sister, Brooke, was just 8 years old.
âMy sister and I have no father to look up to at this point in our lives,â Hunter told the court.
Hunter added his father would not be there to cheer him on as he accepted his high school diploma and many other life events.
He lamented the many lost teaching moments that arise from a close father-son relationship and noted he would have to teach himself.
Hunter said he could not forgive Ward at this point and added that Wardâs own poor choices were responsible for where he ended up in life.
9 photos from sentencing of Dalquavis Ward in the killing of John Hetland
Dalquavis Ward sentencing
Shelly LeGath, John Hetlandâs sister, reads her victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing for Dalquavis Ward on Friday afternoon. She wears a wristband with Hetlandâs name on it and his End Of Watch date: June 17, 2019. Pool Photo / Mark Hertzberg / ZUMA Press Wire
Dalquavis Ward sentencing
Raciner County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Boyle sentences Dalquavis Ward to life in prison without the chance for parole on Friday in Racine. Pool Photo / Mark Hertzberg / ZUMA Press Wire
Dalquavis Ward sentencing
Dalquavis Ward shakes hands with one of his public defenders, Kristyne Watson, after his sentencing Friday afternoon. Ward, who shot and killed off-duty Racine Police Officer John Hetland in June 17, 2019 at Teezers Bar & Grill, 1936 Lathrop Ave., Racine, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.