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Crime & Safety

Update: Husband Held Following Death of Officer Jennifer Sebena

Reports indicate Benjamin Sebena is being held at the West Allis Police Department, but they do not say whether he has been arrested for the shooting death of the 30-year-old Wauwatosa police officer.

The husband of slain Wauwatosa police officer Jennifer Sebena has been taken into custody following his wife's death and was transported to the West Allis Police Department, according to a Wauwatosa police report.

Reports do not indicate if Benjamin Sebena has been arrested for the slaying and police are not commenting further.

Two Wauwatosa police officers and a state Department of Criminal Investigation agent transported Sebena from the Wauwatosa Police Department to the West Allis Police Department on Christmas Day. They turned Sebena over to a West Allis police sergeant at 8:01 p.m., according to a Wauwatosa police report. The sergeant locked Sebena in a cell without incident.

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A West Allis police officer said just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday that the department did not have anyone in lockup at this time.

A news release shortly after noon said the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Wauwatosa Police Department continue to investigate the crime, with the DCI as the lead investigative agency.

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The release said only that DCI "is working with a person of interest," and that at this time, no charges have been filed.

The law enforcement agencies are continuing to pursue multiple investigative leads, they said. "We continue to believe that there is no immediate threat to the general welfare of the public," they said.

Jennifer Sebena, 30, died after she was struck by multiple gunshots early Christmas Eve morning. According to a police report, the last contact the department had with her was at 3:29 a.m.

Some time after that, dispatchers attempted to contact her and she did not respond. She was found at 4:38 a.m. on the north side of the Wauwatosa Fire Station No. 1, 1601 Underwood Ave. The station was taken out of service at 6:30 a.m.

According to the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial website, Sebena is the first Wauwatosa officer to be killed in the line of duty in the 96-year history of the department. Officer Abby Pavlik was shot and seriously wounded during a robbery investigation on Dec. 13, 2009. Pavlik recovered from her injuries.

Benjamin and Jennifer Sebena lived in Menomonee Falls. According to a report in JSOnline, Benjamin is a disabled Iraq war veteran.

Wednesday's press release also said that funeral services for Jennifer Sebena are tentatively planned for Saturday, with further details to come.

The Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association has set up a memorial fund for funeral costs and a cause to be determined. Donations should be made out to the “Officer Jen Sebena Memorial Fund,” and can be dropped off at any Focus Credit Union branch:

  • 3180 N. 124th Street, Suite A, Wauwatosa
  • 1530 N. 68th Street, Wauwatosa
  • N88 W14930 Main Street, Menomonee Falls
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