Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Donald Martin was shot and killed with his own .38 caliber service weapon when he interrupted a burglary in progress at a car dealership at 721 Reading Road in Cincinnati. Patrolman Martin was walking through the lot at approximately 3 am when he encountered a man tampering with one of the vehicles. The suspect, who had a lookout and a getaway driver, was attempting to steal the vehicle's battery. When Patrolman Martin encountered the suspect, a violent struggle ensued. The suspect was able to gain control of Patrolman Martin's .38 caliber service weapon and shot him in the chest. After being shot, Patrolman Martin attempted to escape to his patrol car, but the suspect chased after him and continued firing into his back. The suspect then shot him once in the back of the head after the officer fell. Four men who were driving past the dealership witnessed the suspect chasing after Patrolman Martin and shooting him in the back. The witnesses immediately turned around and tended to the mortally wounded officer as all three suspects fled the scene. The case remained unsolved for 44 years until the agency's Cold Case Squad identified the suspect in 2005. The primary suspect and shooter, however, had died in 2002, three years before the case was re-opened. Of the other two suspects, one disappeared and was believed killed by the primary suspect; the third suspect was found to be alive in 2005. Patrolman Martin was a United States Army Korean War veteran who had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for 5 years and was assigned to District Seven. He was survived by his wife and children. He is buried in Arlington Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-08644488- 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 Martin gave the Cincinnati Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati 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
Donald Martin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Donald Martin 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 Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Martin's cause is highlighted.
How Donald Martin Compares
Offender Outcome
Case solved in 2005
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Martin is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Martin was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Cincinnati Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
