OFFICER DANIEL G. WALTERS

BADGE 3696, ID 5523

SDPD 11/30/1998 - 11/20/2004

08/15/1966 - 04/23/2020

THE THIN BLUE LINE

Daniel Gene "Dan" Walters (born August 15, 1966) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres.

After his playing days were over, Walters remained in San Diego and became a police officer with the San Diego Police Department in 1998 when he graduated the 42nd Regional Academy.  Assigned to Southeastern Division, Officer Walters worked as a patrol officer for five years.

On November 12, 2003, Officer Walters and his partner were working 2nd watch. Around 10:30 p.m., they stopped to back up another officer on a traffic stop. Unbeknownst to the officers, they had stopped a violent domestic disturbance in progress. The other officer had been shot, but the bullet hit him in the handcuffs. As the suspect was looking for the officer, he came across Officer Walters. The suspect pointed his gun at Officer Walter’s face. With no time to draw and shoot, Officer Walters attempted to disarm the suspect. During the struggle, the suspect shot Officer Walters in the neck. As the suspect was distracted, Officer Walter’s partner was able to shoot and kill the suspect.

After being shot, Officer Walters was struck by a passing motorist. Officer Walters suffered two crushed cervical vertebrae. Despite rehabilitation and an outpouring of support, Dan remained confined to a wheelchair until passing away.

Officer Dan Walters End of Watch: April 23, 2020.