My Dad’s Story with the Maryland State Police
- Barry Walters
- Jul 10, 2025
- 4 min read
The following remarks were given by Barry Walters on January 10, 2025, at the Maryland State Police 104th birthday celebration and the dedication of its 1940s history wall at the Pikesville Barracks.
For those fortunate to endure the horrors of World War II, the end of 1945 was the start of a new beginning in their lives. Like so many of the men who honorably served during the war, my Dad, Garland Russell Walters, was full of optimism and great hope for the future.
As I remember the story, during his time in the United States Navy, my Dad met a serviceman who was traveling in his direction to his hometown in Savage, Maryland. Since he did not have his own car, my Dad generously offered a ride home. During the trip, this fellow regaled him of what it was like to be a Maryland State Police Trooper. He thought, “that sounds like a good profession; I should apply!” So, in late 1945, he did and was accepted in January of the following year.
On March 25, 1946, Garland Walters became Trooper (Probationer) Walters and entered the first full-time, State Police “Training School,” which it was called then, just down the street from this very location at the Pikesville Armory. In those days, I believe, State Police headquarters was there too! The training program was just over four months. On August 24, 1946, he graduated with his class of 37 troopers, one of whom was Trooper Lauren Ridge, who unfortunately would be the first trooper to be killed by gunshot in the history of the State Police.
My Dad was initially assigned to the Salisbury Barrack, which had responsibility for three counties back then. After a short breaking-in period, he handled calls, such as a plane crash, assault, and a fatal accident, among others. At that time, there was no Chesapeake Bay Bridge to cross over, so he had to either travel by car ferry or go from the Washington, D.C. line to the top of the state and down the Eastern Shore to get to Salisbury, a very lengthy journey. And he did not have, at least initially, the benefit of a State Police car to do it in!
As the 1940s quickly marched forward, the Maryland State Police was well prepared for new and exciting opportunities. So too was the career and life of Trooper Walters. He had a great beginning, and witnessed many important milestones, including riding a motorcycle and transitioning to cars, dramatic increases in staffing, and a new headquarters complex, which the renovation started in 1949. He also got married to our beloved Mother, Mary Catherine Walters in September 1946, who was a civilian worker for the War Department, and who directly supported the war effort. Not only that, she sacrificed, as did many during World War II, and lost her own brother in a B-24 bombing raid over Austria. Determined to carry on, she and my Dad started their family with the arrival of their first son and my brother, Gregory Garland Walters, on September 1, 1947. Greg was the first to hold the rank of Sergeant Major in the Prince George’s County Police, and the first and currently only one to serve for over 50 years. That’s right, you heard right, I said 50 years! Can you tell I am tremendously proud of all of them?
In 1949, my Dad received his first stripe and promotion, and was selected with Sergeant Hugh Kavanaugh to attend the renowned Northwestern Traffic Institute, and to get closer to home, he applied for and was granted a transfer to Waterloo Barrack A. In that first year, he handled a variety of calls for service, such as homicide, burglary, and fatal accidents. Barrack A oversaw parts of four counties then. What is really neat is I have some of his typewritten MSP reports from Salisbury and Waterloo from that era.
In closing, there is so much more I could share about the 1940s and State Police history, and Trooper Walters’ relationship to the decade. However, as my time is just about up, I will conclude with these thoughts.
He always said it was the best job he ever had, and was very glad that he had chosen the State Police as his career. It was so much more than just a job to him. However, in April 1969, he reluctantly retired after 23 years of service with MSP, departed the Waterloo Barrack for the final time, and retired at the rank of Sergeant Major and Assistant Barrack Commander. He left to accept the golden opportunity of Chief of Police for Howard County, Maryland.
Thank you so much to Colonel Butler, the department, and President Mastronardi of the Alumni Association for allowing me to tell Trooper Walters and our family’s story in the MSP history of the 1940s.
Barry Walters is a retired police officer and has lived most of his life in the City of Laurel and in the surrounding areas of North and West Laurel. He is the son of retired Sergeant Major Garland R. Walters, Maryland State Police, and Mary Catherine Walters. His father was also the former Chief of Police of Howard County. He is also the brother of retired Sergeant Major Gregory G. Walters, Prince George’s County Police. The Walters family lived on Fourth Street in Laurel for years.
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