By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Though Deputy Elton Stover never served on a police force in Niles, his time as a deputy did not go unnoticed in the area.
Stover, who's son Jim Stover served as the Niles Township Treasurer for several years, passed away on Dec. 10, 1965, after suffering injuries sustained from a firearm during the process of a bank robbery. According to Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey, Stover was the only deputy in Berrien County killed in the line of duty.
It was announced at a Niles Township meeting that Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey dedicated a facility, located at 7110 Angle Road, Coloma Township, to Stover and his family.
"We wanted to honor his sacrifice," Bailey simply said.
Stover was a deputy for six and a half years, working at the Berrien Springs Police Department and the Comstock Police Department, as well as being a Constable of Lincoln Township.
On Dec. 3, 1965, Stover, along with another deputy, responded to a call at the Farmers &Merchants National Bank in the Fairplain Plaza, Benton Township. Armed gunmen targeted the bank and were still on the scene as deputies arrived. In an array of gunfire, both deputies were struck. Stover was hit twice, with one bullet entering his arm, traveling through his chest and abdominal cavity, creating a compound fracture and major internal injuries. The other bullet shattered his femur of his right leg, severed the femoral artery and exited behind his knee.
Both deputies, still alive and alerted, were rushed to Mercy Hospital where surgery was done and appeared to be successful.
Stover continued to be alert, was able to converse and stayed in high spirits for a few days following the incident, however, his condition started deteriorating and one week later, on Dec. 10, he passed away during a surgery.
"It goes to show the importance of training. I did not know Deputy Stover personally, but after talking with people who did and his family, they all agreed he would have been very proud of this honor," Bailey said.
A plaque with Stover's name and picture, along with a short saying, hang in the training room at the facility. The actual classroom, which is used to train officers, was named after Stover.
"We've also hung the newspaper article of the incident under his plaque," Bailey said.
Stover was born on Nov. 21, 1910 in Berrien Springs and resided in Stevensville. His body was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, Benton Harbor.