Patrolman Walter Garrison

Patrolman Walter Garrison

Rushville Police Department, Indiana

End of Watch Tuesday, February 3, 1931

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Walter Garrison

Patrolman Walter Garrison was shot and killed when he and the police chief were called to assist a disabled motorist near Circleville.

At 8:30 pm, the officers responded to a residence whose owner had reported a vehicle was stuck in the mud at his driveway's entrance. While being questioned, the driver entered his vehicle on the pretense he was retrieving a jack, but displayed an automatic pistol. He fired three times, striking Patrolman Garrison in the heart and right side of his chest before he fell into a nearby ditch and died. As the suspect fled the scene, the police chief was unable to return fire because the home's residents were present.

The officers were unaware that the 19-year-old suspect had stolen the vehicle in Indianapolis the day before and had committed an armed robbery of a grocery store in Brookville that evening. After an intense search by authorities and local citizens, the suspect was captured the following morning in the area and confessed to these crimes. He also confessed to shooting at an Indianapolis police officer and committing some 30 armed robberies in Indiana, West Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio, during his six-month crime spree. On February 14, 1931, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, where he later died.

Patrolman Garrison had served with the Rushville Police Department for 13 months and was a US Army veteran of WWI. He was survived by his 7-year-old son, two brothers and a half-sister.

Bio

  • Age 35
  • Tour 1 year, 1 month
  • Badge Not available
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Handgun; Pistol
  • Offender Died in prison

stolen vehicle

Most Recent Reflection

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Officer Garrison,
On today, the 90th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army during WW I.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

February 3, 2021

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