Officer Walter O. Salisbury
San Francisco Police Department
California
End of Watch: Monday, January 2, 1939

Biographical Info
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 14 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, December 16, 1938
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 5 years to life

Officer Salisbury was shot and killed attempting to protect a prisoner.

The prisoner had been arrested for stabbing his wife and mother-in-law and was being guarded by Officer Salisbury at a local hospital. The prisoner's brother-in-law pushed his way into the room he was being guarded in and opened fire, killing the prisoner and mortally wounding Officer Salisbury as he tried to protect his prisoner. Officer Salisbury succumbed to his wounds two weeks later.

The suspect was convicted of two counts of second degree murder on April 10, 1939, and sentenced to two terms of five years to life to run concurrently in San Quentin Prison.

Officer Salisbury had been with the agency for 14 years and was survived by his wife and son.