United States Department of the Treasury - United States Secret Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Sunday, November 3, 1907
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 19 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 3, 1907
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Acquitted of charges
Operative Joseph Walker was shot and killed while he, another agent, and two Department of Interior engineers investigated a case of land fraud in a mine shaft at the Hesperus mine, west of Durango, Colorado.
While the other three men were inside of a mine, Operative Walker was shot in the back with a rifle. Two suspects were arrested but were acquitted by a jury who feared retribution against them.
Operative Walker was the first Special Agent in Charge of the Denver office and had previously served on President Grover Cleveland's protective detail. He had served with the United States Secret Service for 19 years. He was survived by his wife.