Corporal Paul James Walters

Paul James Walters

Corporal Paul Walters was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing a street during a snowstorm. He was walking three teenagers back to his patrol car after arresting them for throwing snowballs at passing tractor-trailers.

Corporal Walters and his partner were dispatched to the area where the boys were reportedly throwing snowballs at traffic. The weather was poor that night; heavy snow was falling, and road conditions were poor. Corporal Walters was dropped off near where the subjects were reported to have been seen so he could approach them on foot. His partner double-backed in the patrol car so he could approach the location from the opposite direction. Corporal Walters was able to catch the boys in the act, and he placed them under arrest.
He then attempted to walk the boys back to where the patrol car was parked. Unfortunately, the heavy snow made for treacherous conditions on the Carlisle Pike; driver visibility was low, and the plowed snow banks provided barely enough room for vehicles to pass through the two traffic lanes. In an effort to protect the boys in his custody, Corporal Walters walked behind them, on the edge of the left lane, and used his flashlight to wave approaching vehicles into the right lane and away from the teens. One of the vehicles approaching in the left lane was a large truck whose driver saw Corporal Walters’ directions and was able to make a lane change in time to avoid the officer. However, a sedan was following closely behind the truck. This vehicle’s driver did not see Corporal Walters until the truck changed lanes, which was too late to avoid a collision. Corporal Walters was struck. Though he was rushed to the emergency room, he succumbed to his injuries.

Corporal Walters was a United States Air Force Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Silver Spring Township Police Department for three years. He was survived by his three children, parents, and sister.

He was posthumously promoted to Corporal.