OKLAHOMA CITY On January 3, at 11 a.m., the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial placed a granite grave marker on the unmarked grave of Oklahoma City Police Officer A.L. Walton, End of Watch Oct. 26, 1923, at Rose Hill Burial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, the fourth marker placed as part of the project to ensure all fallen officers have a grave marker. There are still 38 known fallen officers' unmarked graves in Oklahoma.
A.L. Walton was born in Scottsboro, Alabama, November 22, 1882. After moving to Oklahoma City, Walton worked for the railroad for before joining the Oklahoma City Police Department. October 1923 saw record rainfall. On October 16, the North Canadian River overflowed its banks with crest waters 25 feet high, flooding everything. Businesses, homes, and railroad tracks were washed away, leaving 15,000 people stranded. Patrolman A. L. Walton worked 36 hours straight, wading into the cold waters carrying numerous stranded people, including many children, to safety.
Although Walton was ordered to go off duty at one point by Mayor O. A. Cargill, he refused to leave until everyone was rescued. Walton continued to work until he collapsed with a high fever Tuesday afternoon, October 23.
Walton was taken to the hospital for treatment. He developed pneumonia and died at 4 p.m. Friday, October 26, 1923. . Walton was survived by his wife and six children. The oldest child was 14.
Patrolman A. L. Walton is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.