Walter Vance
Agency patch
Patrolman

Walter Vance

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch August 25, 1927
Age 34
Tour of Duty
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Walter Vance was shot and killed after he and his partner attempted to question a suspect in a small restaurant.

The two officers, who were in plainclothes, had gone to the restaurant for their meal break. As they were eating, a man entered and acted suspiciously.

Believing that the man was about to rob the business, Patrolman Vance's partner approached him and displayed his badge. The suspect pulled out a knife and began to struggle with the officer. The man was able to break free and was pursued from the store by Patrolman Vance.

As they ran through a group of people standing on the sidewalk, one of the bystanders shot Patrolman Vance.

Patrolman Vance was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds later in the evening.

Patrolman Vance had served with the Louisville Police Department for only 25 days. He was survived by his wife, four children, parents, and brother. His brother also served as a Louisville patrolman at the time of his murder.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four children, parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Patrolman Vance served with the Louisville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Vance.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 25, 1927
Tour of Duty
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Walter is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Walter was 34. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Walter had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Louisville Police Department has 91 officers remembered here, Walter among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Walter Vance

Louisville Police Department · End of Watch August 25, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-E

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