Walter T. Bell
Agency patch
Senior Patrolman

Walter T. Bell

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC
Accident
End of Watch February 4, 1939
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident

Senior Patrolman Walter Bell was killed in an automobile accident in Kershaw, South Carolina, when his patrol car was struck head-on by another vehicle. He had been assigned to license inspection duty in Lancaster during the day and was returning to Camden when the accident occurred at 7:30 pm. His injuries were initially believed to be minor, but he succumbed to them while en route to the hospital.

Survivors

Patrolman Bell was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

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.
Senior Patrolman Bell served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Patrolman Bell.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Blythewood, Fairfield County, SC
Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1939
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Walter is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1939, 61 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 72nd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Walter was 36. 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.

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

When

February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. 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

South Carolina Highway Patrol has 52 officers remembered here, Walter among them.

Across the years

Senior Patrolman Walter T. Bell

South Carolina Highway Patrol · End of Watch February 4, 1939

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-E

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