(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam man shot by police during a domestic incident was sentenced to nine months in jail Monday. In December, a Dodge County jury found Richard Henke guilty of felony Intentionally Pointing A Firearm at Law Enforcement and misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct with Domestic Abuse Assessments. The jury found he was not guilty on counts of Battery or Threat to Law Enforcement and Resisting an Officer, Substantial Bodily Harm.
Authorities responded to the Henke residence in October of 2018 after reports to 9-1-1 from a child. The first officer entered the home, observed a physical altercation with a screaming woman and described the suspect with a blank stare and eyes that were (quote) “black and evil.” The 36-year-old shoved the woman into a bedroom, the officer lost site then advanced into the bedroom only to be attacked by two dogs.
Henke was then observed in a crouching position against a wall pointing a rifle at the officer, who unloaded his weapon then dove into another bedroom. Henke sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being wounded in the lower extremities. Additional personnel then arrived in the home and arrested Henke. The officer sustained bruises and scratches but was otherwise not physically injured; the district attorney ruled his actions were justified.
At sentencing, District Attorney Kurt Klomberg said that while he deeply respects the defendant’s military service and the fact that he has suffered mentally as a result of it, he must also consider how this has implicated the officer and his family. Klomberg said if a person points a firearm at an officer and that officer discharges his weapon in response, there should be a significant term of incarceration.
In addition to jail, Henke was placed on probation for three years.
