End Of Watch Dan Walters

Dan Walters played for the Padres in 1992 and 1993.  I got to interact with him a few times when the Las Vegas Stars, Padres AAA, would come to Portland to play.  He was very nice and always had time for the fans.  He retired from baseball in 1993 after suffering a spinal injury chasing after a ball.  He had two rods inserted in his spine.  After recovering from that he became a San Diego Police Officer.  On the night of November 12, 2003 his life changed forever.  He and his partner responded to a domestic disturbance call.  As soon as he got out of his cruiser he was shot in the neck by the suspect, as he lay on the ground he was run over by a passing motorist.  He was paralyzed from the neck down.  He recovered some movement in his left hand.  He became a motivational speaker after that.  I learned all this years ago because I sent him a letter asking him to sign something and I got a letter back from his mother telling me about what happened.  I hadn't heard of it because at the time it wasn't publicized much outside of San Diego.  Yesterday, April 23, 2020 Dan Walters passed away in San Diego.  His mother and father preceded him in death.  He was cared for by his sister.  His death is considered a line of duty fatality.  He was 53 years old.