Daniel Gene Walters
Police Officer

Daniel Gene Walters

San Diego Police Department — San Diego, CA
Felonious
End of Watch April 23, 2020
Age 53
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 171 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Dan Walters succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained on November 12, 2003.

He and his partner were backing up another officer on 43rd Street near Gamma Street after the officer stopped to investigate a vehicle parked in the travel lanes with a subject standing nearby. The man immediately pointed a gun at the officer, causing him to seek cover. Officer Walters and his partner immediately confronted the man, who attacked Officer Walters. The man placed his .357 handgun against Officer Walters' neck and shot him, causing him to fall into the roadway. The man was then shot and killed by Officer Walters' partner.

A passing vehicle inadvertently struck Officer Walters, causing additional injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where it was determined that he had become paralyzed from the neck down.

It was later determined that the man who shot Officer Walters was involved in a violent domestic incident when the first officer encountered him.

Officer Walters remained paralyzed and died from complications from the original injuries on April 23, 2020.

Officer Walters had served with the San Diego Police Department for five years at the time he was shot.

Before serving with the San Diego Police Department, Officer Walters was drafted by the Houston Astros and then played two seasons of Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-0FCBCD3B
Stewardship
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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.
Police Officer Walters gave the San Diego Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Walters.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location San Diego, San Diego County, CA
Platform Identity sdpd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 23, 2020
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

Police Officer Daniel Gene Walters 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At San Diego Police Department, 27 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.1% of this agency's fallen.

San Diego Police Department
27
of 38 officers
71.1% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% 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. Daniel Gene Walters's cause is highlighted.

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

How Daniel Gene Walters Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel Gene Walters 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. Daniel Gene Walters was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.

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

Incident Location