On the recordJuly 22, 2019
Mr. President, I rise today to honor the service and sacrifice of Sergeant Mike Stephen of the Stone County Sheriff's Office. Sergeant Stephen was mortally wounded in the line of duty on July 18, 2019. As a veteran of the U.S. Army who spent 20 years in law enforcement, Mike Stephen was a true public servant. He bravely wore many of the uniforms we associate with serving and protecting communities. And his work didn't stop in his own community; he also advocated for his brothers and sisters in blue before the Arkansas State Legislature. Mike's second home was the fire station. He started serving at the Pineville Fire Department when he was 16 years old, and for the last 11 years, he served as chief. His colleagues at the fire department had great respect and admiration for him. He was known as a leader who put 110 percent into everything he did. Sergeant Stephen's colleagues in the sheriff's office will remember him as a man who led from the front and pushed everyone to do better. Sergeant Stephen truly was a hero. We honor his service and sacrifice. Certainly my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Susan, along with many other family members, friends, and colleagues in the law enforcement community. I humbly offer my sincere condolences as they grieve Mike's passing. I stand with all Arkansans in expressing our heartfelt gratitude for Sergeant Stephen's steadfast devotion to serve as a law enforcement officer.…





