Walter L. O'Cain
Agency patch
Detective

Walter L. O'Cain

Macon Police Department — Macon, GA
Felonious
End of Watch June 11, 1948
Age 61
The Vigil Panel 84 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective O'Cain was shot and killed as he and another officer searched for a prowler in the 1600 block of First Street. As he walked into a backyard the suspect shot him in the stomach. The suspect, 20, was arrested the next day. On April 20, 1949, he went to his death in the electric chair.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, sister, and four brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-15AF7C24
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.
Detective O'Cain served with the Macon Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Macon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective O'Cain.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Macon, GA
Platform Identity mpd.bibb.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 11, 1948
Age 61
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Detective Walter L. O'Cain 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Macon Police Department, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Macon Police Department
6
of 12 officers
50% Felonious
GA — Statewide
549
of 905 officers
60.7% 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. Walter L. O'Cain's cause is highlighted.

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

How Walter L. O'Cain Compares

Age at Death
61
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter L. O'Cain is highlighted in Jun.

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. Walter L. O'Cain was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909