First Sergeant Marvin E. Walts
Indiana State Police
Indiana
End of Watch: Monday, March 18, 1957

Biographical Info
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 19 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, March 18, 1957
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

First Sergeant Marvin Walts was shot and killed during a traffic stop of a bank robbery suspect near the intersection of State Roads 131 and 62 in Clark County.

While on his day off, First Sergeant Walts had received a broadcast of an armed robbery at the Sellersburg State Bank at 1315 hours. After stopping a vehicle about forty-five minutes later, it was confirmed the driver's jacket matched the description given of the bank robbery suspect. As First Sergeant Walts returned to the stopped vehicle, the suspect shot him in the forehead, killing him instantly. A minister who was riding with the trooper was then fired upon before being able to return fire himself and killed the suspect with the trooper's shotgun.

First Sergeant Walts, who was planning to retire in six months, had served with the Indiana State Police for 19½ years and was assigned to the Charlestown post. He was survived by his wife and teenage son.