James Samuel Walters, Jr. “Sam” passed away on December 23, 2018, after a long illness. Born in 1948, he was the son of James S. Walters, Sr., and Genevieve (nee Dailey) Walters. Sam graduated from Baltimore City College and the former BCCC with a law enforcement degree. Hired as a police cadet in 1969, he was assigned to Intelligence, Undercover and Subversive Unit. He entered the BPD Academy in late 1969 and at completion was assigned back to Undercover & Subversive Unit until 1974 and went to C.I.D. Vice Squad. He was certified as a Field Training Officer from 1974 to 1976, then to Tactical - Quick Response Team. In 1980, he went to the Eastern District until his retirement in 1990 after 21 years on the BPD.
Sam opened The Cop Shop in 1984 and moved to the current location in 1986. He and his wife Dawn married in 1992 and she worked with him in The Cop Shop. He was the only Glock LE Distributor in Maryland and was a Board Member of the Maryland Licensed Firearms Dealer Association.
After retirement from the BPD in 1990, Sam joined the Baltimore Retired Police Benevolent Association and was a member of their Board of Directors. In 2004 Sam was instrumental in forming the guidelines for the BRPBA “Distress Fund” and was the force behind getting organizational car license plates for its members.
As President of the BRPBA, Daryl Burhman said he will be greatly missed by all. “Sam and I have been close friends, almost like brothers, for many years. We both entered onto the BRPBA Executive Board in 2003 and worked many long hours raising funds for the Distress Fund. Both Sam and I are very proud of what was accomplished to help our brothers, sisters and widows.”
Sam is survived by his wife Dawn (nee Marston); a sister Pamela Lapides; a son Samuel E. Walters; a granddaughter Peyton; and his beloved dogs Lilly and Honey, who went to work with them every day. An earlier marriage ended in divorce.
Family and friends will gather at Schimunek Funeral Home of Bel Air, Inc., 610 W. MacPhail Rd., Bel Air MD 21014, on Thursday, December 27, 2018, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., and where a funeral service will be held on Friday, December 28, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Interment St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery (Aberdeen). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Sam’s memory, to the BRPBA “Distress Fund”, PO Box 935, Bel Air, MD 21014-7935.
