Michael John Walter
Agency patch
Investigator

Michael John Walter

Pearl Police Department — Pearl, MS
Felonious
End of Watch May 1, 2012
Age 37
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 161 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator Mike Walter was shot and killed as he and four other detectives served a search warrant at an apartment complex on Colony Park Drive at approximately 11:15 am.

The warrant was in connection to a case involving the sexual battery of a minor and possession of child pornography. The detectives were clearing the apartment prior to searching it when they located the subject hiding in a bathtub. As the man resisted arrest the officers attempted to use a taser on him. He opened fire on the officers, striking Investigator Walter in the face and wounding two other officers. One of the wounded officers was able to return fire and killed the subject.

All three officers were transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center, where Investigator Walter succumbed to his wound approximately 40 minutes later.

Investigator Walter was a former professional baseball player and had served with the Pearl Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-2D27B2AD
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.
Investigator Walter gave the Pearl Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pearl community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Walter.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Pearl, Rankin County, MS
Platform Identity ppd.rankin.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 1, 2012
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Investigator Michael John Walter 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 MS, 243 of 350 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this state's fallen. That is 69.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Pearl Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MS — Statewide
243
of 350 officers
69.4% 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. Michael John Walter's cause is highlighted.

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

How Michael John Walter Compares

Age at Death
37
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. Michael John Walter is highlighted in May.

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. Michael John Walter was killed by 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

0 officers from Pearl Police Department are honored on badge.nw.