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Incident
Police Officer Dan Walters succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained on November 12, 2003.
He and his partner were backing up another officer on 43rd Street near Gamma Street after the officer stopped to investigate a vehicle parked in the travel lanes with a subject standing nearby. The man immediately pointed a gun at the officer, causing him to seek cover. Officer Walters and his partner immediately confronted the man, who attacked Officer Walters. The man placed his .357 handgun against Officer Walters' neck and shot him, causing him to fall into the roadway. The man was then shot and killed by Officer Walters' partner.
A passing vehicle inadvertently struck Officer Walters, causing additional injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where it was determined that he had become paralyzed from the neck down.
It was later determined that the man who shot Officer Walters was involved in a violent domestic incident when the first officer encountered him.
Officer Walters remained paralyzed and died from complications from the original injuries on April 23, 2020.
Officer Walters had served with the San Diego Police Department for five years at the time he was shot.
Before serving with the San Diego Police Department, Officer Walters was drafted by the Houston Astros and then played two seasons of Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres.
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 Walters gave the San Diego Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Walters.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
San Diego Police Department has lost 38 officers; 27 of them killed feloniously.
Daniel is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2020, 1 officer at San Diego Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 2.
In 2020, 2 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 128th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 2020, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2020, 65 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 122nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Daniel was 53. Of the 27 killed feloniously at San Diego Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.5 and 37; the middle age was 33. Daniel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Daniel was 53. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Daniel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 53. 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. Daniel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 53. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 14.8% of these deaths at San Diego Police Department; June holds the most, 22.2%. Thursdays: 22.2%.
April holds 9.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 15.9%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.1% of all 38 deaths at San Diego Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .357 caliber, in 3.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .357 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .357 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .357 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Daniel among them.
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Emery E. Campbell
Aug 27, 1913
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Oliver S. Hopkins
Jul 2, 1915
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Walter B. Holcomb
Oct 21, 1918
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Joseph S. Lee
Mar 19, 1921
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Charles R. Harris
Apr 3, 1927
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Robert Lee Powers
Jun 16, 1928
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Robert B. McPherson
Sep 19, 1929
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Edward J. Moore
Jan 15, 1933
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Thomas Albert Keays
Nov 20, 1937
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Henry J. Goodrich
Sep 7, 1940
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Robert F. Bowers
Dec 12, 1955
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Harry Kay, Jr.
Mar 11, 1957
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Michael John Bushman
Nov 25, 1963
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Robert L. Everitt
Dec 7, 1964
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James P. Lewis
Dec 29, 1970
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Freddie Joel Edwards
Oct 7, 1971
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Denis W. Allen
Apr 2, 1977
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Archie Calvin Buggs
Nov 4, 1978
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Michael T. Anaya
Apr 11, 1979
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Dennis Glenn Gonzales
Jun 25, 1979
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Ronald R. Ebeltoft
Jun 6, 1981
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Harry Keith Tiffany
Jun 6, 1981
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Kirk Leland Johnson
Feb 20, 1983
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Kimberly Sue Tonahill
Sep 14, 1984
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Timothy J. Ruopp
Sep 16, 1984
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Thomas Edward Riggs
Mar 31, 1985
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Jerry Lee Hartless
Jan 31, 1988
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Ronald Wayne Davis
Sep 17, 1991
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Gerald Kieffer Griffin, Jr.
Apr 25, 2003
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Terry William Bennett
Jun 26, 2003
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Christopher Alan Wilson
Oct 28, 2010
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Jeremy Nicholas Henwood
Aug 7, 2011
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Jonathan Matias De Guzman
Jul 28, 2016
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Jason Paul Zdunich
Jun 10, 2019
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Daniel Gene Walters
Apr 23, 2020
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Ryan Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Jamie Huntley-Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Austin Machitar
Aug 26, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
37 officers from San Diego Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
