Det. Sgt. Donald Franklin Waltemeyer

Donald Franklin Waltemeyer, a retired Baltimore City homicide investigator and most recently a detective sergeant with the Aberdeen Police Department, died of cancer at his Dundalk home on July 11, 2005. He would have been 59 on the 23rd of this month.
Born and raised in Baltimore and always proud of his roots, he was the son of the late Ellison Webster and Pearl Stabley Waltemeyer and one of their fifteen children. Educated in the public school system in Baltimore, he joined the US Army in October 1965 serving three years and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. He saw service overseas in Germany.

Detective Waltemeyer joined the Baltimore City Police Department in October 1968. He worked the streets of the City as a patrolman for seventeen years, assigned at various times to the Southern and Western Districts. He received thirteen official commendations including two Commendatory Letters and two Bronze Stars. In November 1985, he was transferred to the homicide unit. He brought with him the hard-earned street savvy of a patrolman and combined with a tireless work ethic he became a crack investigator. He was described by one of his sergeants as “…the hardest working police officer that I have had the pleasure to supervise.” His file was filled with letters from citizens and professional colleagues praising his dedication and performance. Det. Waltemeyer was mentioned prominently in David Simon’s book, Homicide, A Year on the Killing Streets. Mr. Simon detailed one incident that led to Det Waltemeyer being tagged with the nickname “Digger”. It seems that while investigating a serial killer Det. Waltemeyer found it necessary to exhume the body of a possible victim. Armed with a signed court order from a judge, Det. Waltemeyer went to the graveyard. Two
exhumations later he still hadn’t found the victim he was looking for and gave up; his office mates left a new nameplate on his desk, “Det. Digger Waltemeyer.” After ten years in the homicide unit, Det. Waltemeyer retired from Baltimore City; he didn’t retire from police work.

Donald Waltemeyer joined the Aberdeen Police Department in September 1995. After a period in uniform patrol, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Section where he remained until his death. Building on the investigative background he brought from Baltimore, he developed into the resident specialist in the investigation of sexual and physical child abuse cases. While not assigned there full time, he came to be considered a member of the staff at the Harford County Child Advocacy Center where his professionalism and dedication were highly respected. He continued to be assigned other types of criminal investigations. His position as the lead investigator in the double homicide at the Wawa store in Aberdeen in March 1999 led to the arrest, conviction and life sentence of the perpetrator. At his passing, Chief Randy Rudy said, “Detective Sergeant Donald Waltemeyer was always there for everyone in the Department in their time of need. A man of his compassion and extensive investigative abilities is irreplaceable.” During his career in Aberdeen, he assumed the position of mentor to younger officers, both personally and professionally. Capt. Kenneth Cox said, “ Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. Det. Sgt. Donald Waltemeyer never had that problem.”

Detective Sergeant Waltemeyer is survived by his fiancé, Kathy A. O’Halloran of Dundalk; two sons, Donald Patrick and Jeffrey John Waltemeyer, both of Baltimore; eight brothers, Gary Waltemeyer of Denton, Md., Leonard Waltemeyer of Las Vegas, Nev., Sidney and Joseph Waltemeyer, both of Balimore, Jack and Robert Waltemeyer, both of Myrtle Beach, S. C., David Waltemeyer of Bel Air, Md. and Daniel Waltemeyer of Ft. Smallwood, Md.; and three sisters, Sharon Hamilton of Scaggsville, Md., Vicky Diggins of Finksburg, Md. and Peggy Dunnigan of St. Petersburg, Fl.

In addition to his parents Det. Waltemeyer was predeceased by two sisters, Patricia Wright and Gloria Hall and a brother, Edward Waltemeyer.

Contributions may be made to the St. Agnes Hospice Center, 900 S. Caton Avenue, Baltimore, Md. 21229

Pallbearers will be Capt. Kenneth Cox, Det. Mark Franklin, Ofc. Cornis Adkins, Det. Sgt. James Hagin, Det. Lt. Terrence McLarney and Lt. David Cheuvront.