James E. Walch

Montgomery County Police Department — Gaithersburg, MD

Accident Veteran

End of Watch January 25, 1994

Age 30

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 20

Incident

Police Officer James Walch was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a call for assistance in pursuit of a 13-year-old in a stolen car. During the pursuit, the cruiser struck a patch of black ice on Randolph Road, just west of New Hampshire Avenue, and went out of control. The vehicle spun around and struck a utility pole rear-first, causing the gas tank to rupture and the car to burst into flames. Officer Walch was killed on impact. Another officer was also on the scene after hitting the same patch of ice in a separate patrol car. That officer received minor burns and scratches while trying to rescue Officer Walch. Officer Walch was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Montgomery County Police Department for six years. He is survived by his wife, son, parents, and siblings. He is buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, parents, and siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-9839D8C8
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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.
Police Officer III Walch gave the Montgomery County Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gaithersburg 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

Department Montgomery County Police Department

Location Gaithersburg, MD

Platform Identity mcpd.montgomery.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 25, 1994

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Offender Not available

Military Service

James E. Walch served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer III James E. Walch is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MD, 140 of 377 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.1% of this state's fallen. That is 6.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Montgomery County Police Department, 9 of 21 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Montgomery County Police Department

of 21 officers

42.9% Accident

MD — Statewide

140

of 377 officers

37.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident