Stephen Mader is a former United States Marine Corps member.

He joined the Marines in 2009 and became an improvised explosive device dog handler with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6.

In 2015, Stephen became a police officer in Weirton, West Virginia.

In May 2016, Stephen was fired from the police force when he responded to a call where a suicidal black man, R.J.

Williams, was waving an unloaded gun in the air in order to commit "suicide-by-cop".

Stephen did not shoot R.J., but tried to talk to him.

Then, other police arrived at the scene and shot R.J.

Stephen was fired for endangering the welfare of other officers, even though R.J.'s gun was unloaded.

Activists are currently protesting Stephen's firing.

There is currently a Go Fund Me campaign raising money for him.

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