Stephan B. Wilder has been with the North Canton police since 1981, when he became an unpaid auxiliary officer. He began working part time as a patrolman in 1983 and became a full time patrolman in 1986. In 1996, he was promoted to lieutenant.

Born in Findlay, Stephan’s family moved to Stark County in 1959. He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1969.  In September 2016, he was inducted into the Plain Local Schools Foundation and Alumni Association Hall of Distinction. In 1973, Stephan earned a Bachelor of Art degree in Criminal Justice Studies from Kent State University.

Since joining the North Canton police, Stephan has earned a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University and completed the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police and Command and the Ohio Police Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Leadership College. While at Northwestern University, he was awarded the Franklin M. Kreml Leadership Award.  This award is given to the student who "best displays the dedication, devotion, ethics, sense of justice and other attributes that exemplify the kind of leadership that is needed in today's law enforcement community."

He is a volunteer with the Knights of Columbus as well as the Boy Scouts of America Buckeye Council in which he became an Eagle Scout in 1967 and was then awarded the Silver Beaver Award in 1999.  Stephan is a member of the Rotary Club of North Canton, is a Paul Harris Fellow+2 and was Past President and Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Plain Township. (Editor's note: Chief Wilder has also volunteered as a Junior Achievement mentor in the North Canton City Schools via his Rotary Club of North Canton involvement.)

Stephan is also very active in civic and professional business organizations.  He has been a member of the North Canton YMCA for the past 27 years, Board Member of the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce, an active member of both the Ohio Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police as well as President of the Stark County Police Chiefs Association.  He is a life member of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and the 32 Degree Master Mason, William H. Hoover Lodge #0770 F. & A.M. of North Canton.

On a personal level he has completed 36 marathons nationally and internationally with Pikes Peak, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Marine Corps, Air Force, San Diego, Columbus, Maine, and Rome, Italy as being the most memorable.

Stephan and his wife, Mary, have been married for the past 36 years and they happily reside in North Canton.