Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Stephen Stecker was killed when a bomb exploded in the department's Central Police Station. Officer Stecker had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for 18 years. He is buried in Glen Oaks, also known as Evergreen, Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nine Milwaukee police officers and two civilians were killed when a bomb exploded inside of the Central Police Station at the intersection of Broadway and Oneida Street (modern-day Wells Street). The bomb had been found in an alley between a church and its adjacent mission house. A church member and citizen brought the bomb to the police station and gave it to Station Keeper Henry Deckert, who took it to the assembly room as roll call was starting. As the officers examined the device it exploded, killing eight officers inside of the room, one officer in the radio room above the assembly room, and two civilians who were inside of the station. No suspects were ever identified but it was believed at the time that the bomb had been placed at the church by anarchist sympathizers.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-WI-B58C2AC1- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Stecker gave the Milwaukee Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Stecker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Stephen Stecker is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 50.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Milwaukee Police Department, 42 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stephen Stecker's cause is highlighted.
How Stephen Stecker Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen Stecker is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stephen Stecker was killed by explosives.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
68 officers from Milwaukee Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
