Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard Walter Zimmer and Guard Samuel Chesshir were stabbed to death by an inmate at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus.
The inmate went berserk for no apparent reason, grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen, stabbed both guards and seriously injured another guard before being subdued.
The inmate, who was serving a 15-year sentence for burglary, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and executed in the electric chair on February 2nd, 1949.
Guard Zimmer had served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-B41E1C41- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Zimmer gave the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Zimmer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Walter W. Zimmer 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 18 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter W. Zimmer's cause is highlighted.
How Walter W. Zimmer Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1949
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter W. Zimmer is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter W. Zimmer was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
