Salisbury Police Department, Maryland
End of Watch: Friday, September 5, 1958
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 17
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 5, 1958
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentence commuted to life
Officer Stephens was shot in the back and killed by a check forgery suspect as they were walking inside the police station. The suspect, was captured minutes later when officers found him hiding in high weeds outside the police station.
The suspect, 37, was convicted of his murder and sentenced to death on November 19, 1958. He was one of the first inmates to work our legal system through his attorney's to get numerous appeals and new trials at a high cost to the taxpayers for several years. His sentence was commuted to life June 24, 1976.