Serving from 1966 until 1998, Stover rose through the ranks of the Birmingham Police Department to become Deputy Chief in charge of field operations.

Despite numerous black candidates being put forward and passing the exam in the years immediately after 1963, none were hired due to their being perceived to be associated with the civil rights movement, either as having been members of it or having been sponsored by it.

Stover had previously had negative experiences with the police force including being racially abused by them and had not considered applying until this point.

[6][5][8] According to Stover, on his first day on the force he was racially abused and, rather than being sent to the police academy, was put directly onto the beat with a known racist as his partner.

Stover recalled that the senior sergeant had threatened to write him up as AWOL if he had not made it to his patrol car in time, effectively firing him on his first day.

Stover and the other black recruits were eventually permitted to go to the police academy after about eight months on the force, but white colleagues still refused to eat with them, and played "pranks" on them including dressing up as members of the KKK.