Walter Patrick Matthys

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 11, 1964

Age 21

Tour of Duty 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 99 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Police Officer Walter Matthys was shot and killed with his own service revolver after responding to a disturbance at the intersection of Edythe Street and Central Avenue. As he attempted to speak with one of the subjects the man assaulted him and gained control of his service weapon. The man shot him once and then continued to shoot him after he had fallen to the ground. He was apprehended, charged with murder, and sent to the Clifton Perkins Mental Hospital. The suspect, 32, a former mental patient, had served two prison terms for attacking police officers. On February 8, 1973, he was acquitted and ordered to remain in the mental hospital. Officer Matthys was a U.S. Army veteran. He had been with the Baltimore Police Department for only three months and was assigned to the Eastern District.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-FDABED85
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 Matthys served with the Baltimore City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore 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 Baltimore Police Dept.

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 11, 1964

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Age 21

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Committed

Military Service

Walter Patrick Matthys served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Walter Patrick Matthys is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Dept.

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious