Detroit Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Monday, July 31, 1972
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: 3057
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 31, 1972
Weapon Used: Rifle; .32 caliber carbine
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 12 to 19 years
Police Officer Stocker was shot and killed by a 19-year-old youth while attempting to question him about a stolen rifle at his second-floor apartment at 5120 Hillsboro Street.
The suspect opened fire through his front door as soon as Officer Stocker and three other officers knocked on the door and identified themselves as police officers. Officer Stocker was shot in the head, and another officer was critically wounded. The suspect was captured as he fled from his apartment.
The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and felonious assault and sentenced to 12 to 19 years in prison on Dec. 19, 1972. He was paroled on July 22, 1981.
Officer Stocker was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served with the Detroit Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife and three children.