1974 – Larry Eugene Walters – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Larry Eugene Walters

Biographical Info:

Born: August 28, 1943
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 45

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 13, 1974
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

On Wednesday morning, November 13, 1974, there was a disturbance inside the Riverside Municipal Courthouse at 10th and Orange Streets in Downtown Riverside. A Riverside Police Department sergeant and detective, who were already at the courthouse to testify, intervened and learned from a woman that she and her husband had been threatened with a knife by the woman’s ex-boyfriend, Gerald Monroe. The detective searched Monroe and failed to find a weapon. The sergeant called the Riverside Police Department and requested a uniformed officer be assigned to the investigation. Officer Rick Albee, who by coincidence was in front of the Municipal Court, was assigned to handle the call. Traffic Officer Larry Walters volunteered to assist Officer Albee.

Officer Albee and Officer Walters contacted all of the involved parties at the Municipal Court and determined that Monroe was not armed and was acting cooperative. Monroe told the officers he had no vehicle and had taken the bus to Riverside from Corona. The situation was resolved when Monroe voluntarily left the Municipal Court, since he was not a party to any action there. About 15 minutes later, as Officer Albee was leaving the courthouse, Officer Walters stopped Monroe, now driving a Ford Pinto, for a right-of-way violation at 9th and Lime Streets, about a block away from the courthouse. Officer Albee arrived at the location moments later, and Officer Walters told him he was going to write Monroe a citation for the observed traffic violation. As Officer Walters wrote the citation, Officer Albee approached Monroe who was still seated in his vehicle. Officer Albee told Monroe he wanted to ask him some questions regarding his investigation into the matter at the courthouse and asked him to step out of the vehicle. As Officer Albee began to open the driver’s door, Monroe pushed the door into Officer Albee and then slammed the door shut. When Monroe attempted to start his vehicle, Officer Walters quickly approached to assist. Officer Walters leaned inside the driver’s side window and attempted to pull the key from the ignition while Officer Albee attempted to pull Monroe from the car. Monroe got the vehicle started, but it stalled immediately. Monroe then reached under the front seat, pulled out a four- inch, .38 caliber revolver, and shot Officer Walters in the head. A fierce gun battle ensued in which both Officer Albee and Monroe fired several shots at each other. Monroe was struck several times and died at the scene. Officer Larry Walters was transported by ambulance to the Riverside Community Hospital, where he died of his wound.
Officer Larry Walters was born on August 28th, 1943 and was employed as a Riverside Police Officer on January 3rd, 1966. He was transferred to Traffic Division on July 17th, 1970, where he was assigned as a traffic enforcement motorcycle officer. Officer Walters held an Associate of Arts Degree and had received his P.O.S.T. Intermediate Certificate. Officer Larry Walters is survived by his wife Ladonna and three children.

In October 2007, the city of Riverside dedicated a newly built baseball field (Walters Field) to the memory of fallen Officer Larry Walters.

Officer Walters is buried in Riverside, at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park at 11500 Arlington Ave.

Posted in End Of Watch.

2 Comments

    • Hi Taryn, thank you for the update. I’ve not had the time needed to properly update the officer info section on the RCPOMF webpage. Hoping to get things updated ASAP. Sorry it took so long to respond to your blog comment.

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