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Dennis Lee Stemen
Incident
Correction Officer Dennis Stemen was killed in an automobile crash as he was returning to the Allen Correctional Institution after taking a prisoner to a hospital for treatment. The state prison van he was riding in crashed on Route 31 between Mount Victory and Kenton. Officer Stemen was ejected from the van when it overturned after striking a concrete post. Officer Stemen had served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for seven years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Correction Officer Stemen gave the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correction Officer Stemen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has lost 26 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Dennis is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Dennis is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Dennis is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1994, 1 officer at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1994, 4 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 1994, 81 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 26th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1994, 105 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Dennis was 31. Of the 4 lost to accidents at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 29.3 and 42; the middle age was 34.5. Dennis had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Dennis was 31. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Dennis had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dennis was 31. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Dennis had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dennis was 31. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Dennis had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 40% of these deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 60%.
July holds 12.2% of these deaths in OH, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 15%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 19.2% of all 26 deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has 26 officers remembered here, Dennis among them.
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Cyrus Sells
Jun 9, 1841
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James Fancher Jul 14, 1849
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Daniel Heavey Jan 19, 1865
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Charles B. Lauderbaugh
Nov 18, 1898
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Henry J. Gearhart May 29, 1904
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William H. Moorehead Dec 23, 1905
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Urban Wilford Nov 3, 1926
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Grant Weakley
Sep 2, 1927
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Frank B. Hanger
Oct 6, 1932
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Alfred E. Schmidt Sep 2, 1940
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Walter W. Zimmer
Apr 19, 1948
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Samuel P. Chesshir Apr 22, 1948
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Arthur L Sprouse Jul 24, 1973
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Gary P. Underwood
Jul 24, 1973
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Robert A. White
Apr 27, 1979
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Eric D Bowling Feb 2, 1984
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Beverly Jo Taylor
Jun 7, 1990
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Thomas D. Davis, Jr.
Jun 26, 1992
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Robert B. Vallandingham
Apr 14, 1993
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Dennis Lee Stemen
Jul 5, 1994
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Bonita Haynes
Aug 6, 1996
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Shirlene A. Jenkins
Feb 11, 1997
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Wayne Mitchell
Feb 2, 2001
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Michael Wilson Douds
Apr 5, 2003
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Rodney Osborne
Apr 9, 2024
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Andrew Lansing
Dec 25, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
