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Martin W. Yawarsky
Agency patch
Police Officer

Martin W. Yawarsky

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Accident
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch September 6, 1980
Age 25
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 1015
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Officer Martin Yawarsky was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a disturbance call at 26th and Hamilton Avenues intersection in Columbus. Officer Yawarky and another officer had arrested an intoxicated man who had brandished a gun. The subject was in the back of their police wagon when they received a disturbance call. Heading southbound on Hamilton Avenue with their lights on, they were struck by another police cruiser with its lights on. The cruiser was driving west on the one-way street on its way to the same disturbance call. The wagon flipped over on top of a car that was stopped at the light and crashed into a yard before bursting into flames. Both officers driving were hospitalized. The passengers in the stopped car were slightly injured. The prisoner and Officer Yawarky were dead at the scene. Officer Yawarsky had served with the Columbus Division of Police for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Police Officer Yawarsky gave the Columbus Division of Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Yawarsky.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police
Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 6, 1980
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 25
Badge Number 1015
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Martin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1980, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Martin was 25. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Martin had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, Martin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Martin W. Yawarsky

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch September 6, 1980

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W

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