BOISE, Idaho — Plans are underway to memorialize and honor the Boise Police Department's only officer killed in the line of duty with a larger-than-life statue near where he was killed.
On September 20, 1997, Boise Police Officer Mark Stall was shot to death on the corner of 15th and Idaho Streets when a traffic stop went awry.
"That truly seemed to be a turning point when people realized we lost a police officer," Captain Ron Winegar with the Boise Police Department said. "Boise seemed to have lost its innocence a little bit."
Winegar also responded to the traffic stop and was wounded in the shoot out.
"Those who were involved, often when they come by here - myself included - I always remember that night," Winegar said. "I always remember all of those things and most importantly, I just remember Mark's life."
Winegar and others feel it’s time for Stall to be properly remembered and honored.
"A statue that will represent the ultimate sacrifice that Mark made as the only Boise police officer to ever be killed in the line of duty," Winegar said.
Benjamin Victor, a sculptor and artist in residence at Boise State University, was selected to sculpt the monument for Stall.
"They told me the story of Mark and what his sacrifice was to our community and it really was just a very moving story and a project I definitely wanted to be involve in," Victor said.
Stall's statue will be molded in clay and cast in bronze. Once complete, it will stand eight-feet tall and weigh 1,000 pounds.
"Since I have started doing monumental sculptures, I have focused in on police, firefighters, military and service personnel," Victor said. "It's something that I really love to do, I can apply my talent to something that is very meaningful."
The statue will cost more than $100,000, funded by private donations only and the community is asked to chip in.
For those who would like to contribute, donations can be mailed to:
The Idaho Peace Officers' Memorial Fund
C/ O Mark Stall Memorial
700 S. Stratford Drive
Meridian, Idaho 83462