Bio & Incident Details
Age: 29
Tour: 5 years
Badge # P338
Military veteran
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 3/11/1961
Weapon: Officer's handgun
Suspect: Case solved in 2005
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Patrolman Donald Martin was shot and killed with his own .38 caliber service weapon when he interrupted a burglary in progress at a car dealership on Reading Road. Patrolman Martin was walking through the lot at approximately 0300 hours when he encountered a man tampering with one of the vehicles. The suspect, who had a lookout and a getaway driver, was attempting to steal the vehicle's battery.
When Patrolman Martin encountered the suspect a violent struggle ensued. The suspect was able to gain control of Patrolman Martin's .38 caliber service weapon and shot him in the chest. After being shot, Patrolman Martin attempted to escape to his patrol car but the suspect chased after him and continued firing into his back. The suspect then shot him once in the back of the head after the officer fell.
Four men who were driving past the dealership witnessed the suspect chasing after Patrolman Martin and shooting him in the back. The witnesses immediately turned around and tended to the mortally wounded officer as all three suspects fled the scene.
The case remained unsolved for 44 years until the agency's Cold Case Squad identified the suspect in 2005. The primary suspect and shooter, however, had died in 2002, three years before the case was re-opened. Of the other two suspects, one disappeared and was believed killed by the primary suspect; the third suspect was found to be alive in 2005.
Patrolman Martin had served with the agency for 5 years and was assigned to District Seven, and had previously served in with the United States Army and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was survived by his wife and children and is buried in Arlington Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio.
