Ben Ray Walker
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Ben Ray Walker

Felonious
End of Watch April 6, 1971
Age 35
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ben Walker was shot and killed while he and his partner were escorting three prisoners to a dentist's office in Flint. Two of the prisoners were handcuffed together awaiting their turn. As Deputy Walker unlocked the handcuffs to take one of them to the exam room the two prisoners attacked him. During the scuffle, the third prisoner went out the door with the other deputy in pursuit. One of the two attacking prisoners was able to take control of Deputy Walker's gun and shot the other deputy through a glass door as he was taking the third prisoner into custody at gunpoint. The prisoner who shot the deputy then took his revolver as well and shot Deputy Walker as he attempted to access his backup weapon. The two attacking prisoners escaped as the third prisoner called the sheriff's office to report the incident. One of the prisoners was captured in a house at 3406 North Street, one block from the dentist office. The two escapees were apprehended and one was subsequently killed in prison during another escape attempt. The second suspect was sentenced to life in prison. The wounded deputy recovered from his wounds. Deputy Walker had served with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-6B3CA3DE
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Walker gave the Genesee County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Flint community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Walker.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Flint, Genesee County, MI
Platform Identity gcso.genesee.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1971
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff Ben Ray Walker is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Genesee County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Genesee County Sheriff's Office
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ben Ray Walker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Ben Ray Walker Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ben Ray Walker is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ben Ray Walker was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Genesee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.