Before joining LASD in 2007, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a corporal from 2002 through 2006. Between January 12 and July 31, 2005, he participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Waldron was awarded a Silver Star for his role in the so-called ​​”Father’s Day Massacre” on June 19, 2005, where he personally killed five people, and led his unit to kill 16 more. “He’s a crazy bastard, and he’s awesome at what he does,” one of his company members told a reporter for the Marines. Two years after shooting a fellow deputy in the leg, Waldron was given the “Lifesaving Award” by LASD.