Walter Major
Agency patch
Sergeant

Walter Major

Albany Police Department — Albany, NY
Accident
End of Watch August 16, 1921
Age 44
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Walter Major was accidentally shot and killed as he and another detective attempted to unload a semi-automatic pistol at the 2nd Precinct station house.

The handgun discharged and struck Sergeant Major in the head, killing him.

Sgt. Major, On today, the 100th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Albany.

R.I.P. USBP

Anonymous United States Border Patrol August 16th, 2021

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-B375DA9A
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Walter. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Major served with the Albany Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Major.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Albany, Albany County, NY
Platform Identity apd.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 16, 1921
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Sergeant Walter Major is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Albany Police Department, 4 of 12 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Albany Police Department
4
of 12 officers
33.3% Accident
NY — Statewide
645
of 2,147 officers
30% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Major's cause is highlighted.

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

How Walter Major Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Major is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897