Walter Henry Kesterson
Agency patch
Policeman

Walter Henry Kesterson

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch February 4, 1946
Age 51
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Walter Kesterson was shot and killed by two suspects after he and his partner responded to a robbery call. Both suspects were shot and killed by Policeman Kesterson after he was shot. The two men were wanted for the January 31, 1946, murder of Officer Richard Pennington, of the Vernon Police Department. Officer Pennington was shot and killed after arresting the two men for leading him on a vehicle chase. Policeman Kesterson was posthumously awarded the department's Medal of Valor award in 2007.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Policeman Kesterson gave the Los Angeles Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1946
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Walter Henry Kesterson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Walter is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Walter was 51. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Walter had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Walter among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman Walter Henry Kesterson

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch February 4, 1946

Military Service

Walter Henry Kesterson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Walter Henry Kesterson’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E

Also Remembered

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