On a Saturday morning, September 20, 1997, Boise Police Officer Mark Arlin Stall, a 29-year-old male, was shot and killed during a traffic stop that escalated into a violent confrontation. Officer Stall was a dedicated officer, respected by his colleagues and committed to the community he served. He had been with the Boise Police Department for three years, having previously served for four years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
He was known as a devoted family man, survived by his wife and two young daughters.
The fateful incident began as a routine traffic stop. The two occupants of the vehicle refused to comply with the initial officers' orders, prompting a call for backup. Officer Stall was among the officers who responded to the request for assistance to perform a "high-risk stop." When the two suspects finally exited their vehicle, they immediately opened fire on the officers.
During the exchange of gunfire, Officer Stall was struck on the right side of his body, just above his protective vest. Another officer was also seriously injured. The other officers on the scene returned fire, and both suspects were shot and killed at the scene. There were no subsequent arrests as the individuals responsible for Officer Stall's death were killed during the incident. Mark Stall was the first officer to be killed in the line of duty in the history of the Boise Police Department. In his honor, the street where the Boise Police Station is located was named Mark Stall Place.
