Robert Edward Walters

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 26, 1952

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 105

Incident

Officer Robert Walters was shot and killed as he rushed into the scene of a robbery at the Personal Finance Company at Third and Market Streets. The suspect was fleeing towards the front door when Officer Walters entered. As Officer Walters threw the suspect to the ground the suspect drew a gun and shot him. Before collapsing, Officer Walters shot the suspect three times. A Special Officer rushed to assist Officer Walters and was shot in the arm while taking the suspect into custody. The suspect was rendered a paraplegic by one of Officer Walters shots. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. On December 28, 1953, he died from an overdose of sleeping pills at the San Quentin Prison Hospital just twelve days before he was to have been executed. Officer Walters was a U.S. Navy veteran. He is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-AEA62B61
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.

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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.
Officer Walters served with the San Francisco Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco 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 San Francisco Police Department

Type Police Department

Location San Francisco, CA

Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1952

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Robert Edward Walters served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer Robert Edward 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 97,759 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 Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.

San Francisco Police Department

of 106 officers

62.3% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious