In the summer of 1977, a call regarding a domestic dispute would forever alter the course of life for Baltimore County Police Officer John W. Stem, Sr. On July 6th, he and his partner, Patrolman Charles Huckeba, responded to a residence in the 2400 block of Brunswick Road. Upon their arrival, the situation escalated rapidly when a suspect emerged and opened fire on the two officers.
Patrolman Huckeba was tragically struck in the face. In an act of bravery, Officer Stem moved to a position behind nearby houses to try and gain a tactical advantage and assist his fallen partner. It was during this maneuver that he was shot in the back. The single rifle shot left him paralyzed from the waist down. The suspect, who was reportedly high on PCP at the time of the incident, was later shot and killed by the department's tactical unit during a standoff.
For his courageous actions on that fateful day, Officer Stem was awarded the Medal of Honor. He retired from the Baltimore County Police Department in 1990. The severe injuries he sustained, however, would lead to ongoing medical complications and hospitalizations for the remainder of his life. More than two decades after the violent encounter, at the age of 51, Police Officer John W. Stem, Sr. succumbed to these medical complications on October 19, 2000. His death was a direct result of the gunshot wound he suffered in the line of duty 23 years earlier.
