Donald W. Sager
Police Officer

Donald W. Sager

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch April 24, 1970
Age 35
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 2355
The Vigil Panel 106 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Donald Sager was shot and killed, and his partner was seriously wounded as they sat in their patrol car writing a report in the 1200 block of Myrtle Avenue. Three men, members of the radical Black Panthers, walked up behind and on each side of the patrol car and opened fire with automatic handguns. Officer Sager was killed instantly, and his partner was hit four times. Two of the suspects were apprehended near the scene an hour later. The third suspect was apprehended two days later. In 1972, all three suspects were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. One died in prison in November 1980. Another was released from prison in May 2010. The third subject was released from prison on March 4th, 2014. Officer Sager was a United States Army Korean War veteran and had served with the Baltimore Police Department for 12 years. He was survived by his wife and child. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-144020CE
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 Sager gave the Baltimore City Police Department 12 years.
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

Location Baltimore, MD
Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 24, 1970
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 35
Badge Number 2355
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Donald W. Sager served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Donald W. Sager 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.
80
of 151 officers
53% Felonious
MD — Statewide
195
of 377 officers
51.7% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald W. Sager's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Donald W. Sager Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald W. Sager is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald W. Sager was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location