Fallen Milwaukee Officer was also Iraq Veteran

Slain Milwaukee Police Officer was Iraq veteran

WSAU News
by Michael Leischner
Thursday, February 07, 2019

Matthew Rittner is the 3rd Officer killed while on duty in less than 12 months.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) -- The Milwaukee Police Officer killed while executing a search warrant on Wednesday was also a combat Veteran.

Matthew Rittner, 35, served two tours in Iraq before joining the Milwaukee Police force as a tactical officer where he would serve for 17 years.

Rittner enlisted in the Marines shortly after graduating high school and reportedly survived multiple IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks and a four-hour firefight.

Rittner leaves behind a wife, whom he married in a ceremony at Miller Park, and a child. A suspect, 26-year-old Jordan Fricke, is in custody. Formal charges against him are pending.
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Marine with concealed carry permit stops man from beating woman

Marine with concealed carry permit stops man from beating woman
March 12, 2013
by Henry Rosoff
FOX6 Milwaukee

WEST ALLIS (WITI) — A Marine Corps veteran was able to stop a man early Tuesday, March 12th from nearly kicking a woman to death. It happened near 102nd and Lincoln, and Wisconsin’s concealed carry law made his efforts possible.

Charlie Blackmore was driving home from work at 4:00 a.m. along Lincoln Avenue when he saw something on the sidewalk.

Blackmore didn’t realize it was a woman on the ground being kicked in the head and stomach until he got closer.

That’s when he jumped out of his car and sprung into action.

“I said ‘stop’ and he starts coming towards me and that`s when I drew on him. He started getting closer and I said ‘get down on the ground,’” Blackmore said.

Blackmore held his gun on the suspect and called West Allis police. He says several times while waiting for police to arrive, the attacker moved toward him.

“I mean I’ve already made it up in mind that if he came at me I was going to have to take him down and I told him that. I warned him multiple times not to come towards me because he was a big guy and

I wasn’t playing around and he didn’t seem like he was playing around,” Blackmore said.
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PTSD could be used as defense for Benjamin Sebena

PTSD could be used as defense for Benjamin Sebena
Currently in Milwaukee County Jail on $1 million bail
By Nick Bohr
Jan 03, 2013

Ben Sebena could use PTSD as defense

MILWAUKEE —The husband of slain Wauwatosa police officer Jennifer Sebena will learn Thursday whether he will stand trial in her death.

Benjamin Sebena, 30, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide.

The Iraq war veteran could use post-traumatic stress disorder as a defense.

In the two days he was in custody following the shooting death of his wife, Sebena slowly revealed details about their lives together and eventually, according to prosecutors, admitted to shooting her five times in the head.
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Accused killer described PTSD emotional wounds after war

Accused killer described emotional wounds after war
CBS
by Diane Moca
Story Created: Dec 27, 2012

MILWAUKEE -- As questions continue to swirl around what would motivate Benjamin Sebena to allegedly stalk and kill his wife Jennifer on Christmas Eve, the Wauwatosa Police Chief says issues related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were mentioned during officer interviews with the defendant.

In an informational video with graphic pictures released by the Elmbrook Church in Brookfield in 2010, Ben Sebena reveals anxieties he suffered after returning from two tours of duty in Iraq.

In the church video, Ben says he shared his painful memories to help other veterans.

"I've been to the dark places, and I want to help bring them to the light," he says after describing the day in 2005 when he was changed forever after he nearly lost his life and watched a friend die, one of 50 deaths of fellow soldiers he says he witnessed.

"A mortar round came down and dropped right behind him. It killed him instantly, and the rest of the schrapnel came and hit me," explained Ben. "I looked down at my knee, and my pants were soaked in blood. And I could see my knee cap. My arm is drooping off my body and holding on by a couple tendons."

In the church video, Ben describes his physical struggle to walk again and the emotional difficulties he faced after the attack -- even when he was attending church back at home.
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Marine arrested in shooting of police officer wife

Marine Arrested in Shooting of Police Officer Wife on Christmas Eve

Marine Arrested in Shooting of Police Officer Wife on Christmas Eve

Ben Sebena is a "decorated U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq before suffering severe arm and leg injuries in a mortar attack," according to the Associated Press

By ASHLEY JENNINGS
Dec. 27, 2012

ABC/AP
Benjamin Sebena, left, the husband of Jennifer L. Sebena, right, a police officer who was fatally shot on Christmas Eve while patrolling in suburban Milwaukee has been arrested in connection with her death.

A decorated Marine has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of his police officer wife while she was on patrol during Christmas eve, officials said today.

The body of Officer Jennifer Sebena, 30, was found by fellow officers of the Wauwatosa, Wisc., police department after she failed to respond to radio calls. She was shot several times, police said.

Authorities released little information on her killing, but said that her husband, Benjamin Sebena, is in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail. He is being held on a tentative charge of first-degree intentional homicide, but has not been formally charged, officials said.

"He is in custody, and we're waiting on paperwork to be brought down to this office," said Mia Williams, clerical assistant at Milwaukee's District Attorney's Office.
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