Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Walter Garrison was shot and killed when he and the police chief were called to assist a disabled motorist near Circleville. At 8:30 pm, the officers responded to a residence whose owner had reported a vehicle was stuck in the mud at his driveway's entrance. While being questioned, the driver entered his vehicle on the pretense he was retrieving a jack, but displayed an automatic pistol. He fired three times, striking Patrolman Garrison in the heart and right side of his chest before he fell into a nearby ditch and died. As the suspect fled the scene, the police chief was unable to return fire because the home's residents were present. The officers were unaware that the 19-year-old suspect had stolen the vehicle in Indianapolis the day before and had committed an armed robbery of a grocery store in Brookville that evening. After an intense search by authorities and local citizens, the suspect was captured the following morning in the area and confessed to these crimes. He also confessed to shooting at an Indianapolis police officer and committing some 30 armed robberies in Indiana, West Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio, during his six-month crime spree. On February 14, 1931, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, where he later died. Patrolman Garrison had served with the Rushville Police Department for 13 months and was a US Army veteran of WWI.
Survivors
He was survived by his 7-year-old son, two brothers and a half-sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-18E4621E- 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.
Patrolman Garrison gave the Rushville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Rushville 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Walter Garrison served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Walter Garrison 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Rushville Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Garrison's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Garrison Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Garrison is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Garrison was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Rushville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
