Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch: Saturday, March 11, 1961
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: P338
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 11, 1961
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Case solved in 2005
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 at 721 Reading Road in Cincinnati.
Patrolman Martin was walking through the lot at approximately 3 am 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 was a United States Army Korean War veteran who had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for 5 years and was assigned to District Seven. He was survived by his wife and children.
He is buried in Arlington Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio.