201 N. Brown Street
Rhinelander, WI 54501

Stephen Martin joined the Rhinelander Police Department in February of 1996.  During his tenure with the department, Stephen became an active member of the Bicycle Patrol Program and the Field Training Program.  Stephen was a major asset in the effort to establish the Rhinelander BMX Track located in West Side Park.

​

On December 1, 2003 Stephen was called to active duty as part of the 330th Military Police Unit.  Stephen left for Iraq in early 2004 and was stationed at a police training academy in Mosul.  Stephen's main responsibility was training new Iraqi police officers who would be taking over for the current civilian law enforcement.  During his stay in Mosul, Stephen was promoted to the rank of Sergeant at the Rhinelander Police Department.

​

On June 24, 2004 a suicide car bomber attempted to drive a vehicle full of high explosives into the police training academy while everyone was sleeping.  Stephen and two of his comrades heard the vehicle approaching at which point they ran to the rooftop of the academy and opened fire on it.  As a result of their quick action, the individuals inside of the academy were saved from the blast.  Unfortunately, Stephen Martin and one of his comrades lost their life.  Stephen died on July 1, 2004 at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. as a result of the injuries he sustained from the blast.

​

Stephen Martin was a true American Hero and he is dearly missed by his friends, his family, and the members of the Rhinelander Police Department.