Danny L. Martin

Danny Lynn Martin, born April 4, 1954 to Willie Mack and Mary Christine Martin, died on August 1, 2025. He was 71 years old. Born and raised in Delhi, La, he moved to Baton Rouge to attend LSU, which led to meeting the love of his life, Kathy Thibodeaux Martin, and to him becoming a Baton Rouge Police Officer. He spent 32 years with the Baton Rouge Police Department, retiring at the rank of Major in 2007. During his time with BRPD, Danny worked in several divisions, but excelled and relished his role with the K9 unit, helping to shape it and lead it into one of the most respected K9 divisions in the United States, which continues to this day. Danny believed in doing the right things at the right time and for the right reason, and completely and thoroughly documenting it each time.

Along the way, he and Kathy welcomed three children: Jason Brandon Martin, Kristen Danielle Martin Johnson, and Karen Courtney Martin. He spent his nights working and his days with his three kids, going to school events, sporting events, and helping with homework. After he retired, he began to grow a garden and produced an insane amount of crops each year, stuffing several freezers and giving away just as much.

But, in 2009, he found his true calling and something that defined him for the rest of his life: the name PawPaw. Whether it was playing on the floor, taking them to movies or plays, teaching them to fish, ride bikes, and drive, or instilling in them a love of travel and curiosity for other places, he devoted his days to loving his grandchildren: Gracie, Audrey, Brooks, and Isabelle, and his three bonus grandchildren, Finn, Aksel, and Harper. Danny, ever the planner, planned a two week trip to Europe in 2024 where all 15 immediate family members were able to go and make the most of their time there. His constant planning and preparation ensured that there was nothing left to see when it was time to come home. But most important to him, his grandchildren had a memory that would last them a lifetime.

Danny is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Gayle Martin Laventon, and his three favorite partners K9 Champ, K9 Zac, and K9 Maiko. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, his three children Jason (Amy), Kristy (Scott), and Courtney (Paul), his 7 grandchildren, and three nieces, Loren (Phill) Fanning, Reagan Laventon, and Shannon Laventon.

Visitation and Funeral services will be conducted at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, beginning at 9 am with the service at 11 am. Honorary pallbearers will be Jason Martin, Brooks Martin, Scott Johnson, Paul Uitto, Finn Uitto, and Aksel Uitto. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Danny’s name to the Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation.

In true Danny Martin fashion, this obituary has been spellchecked, grammar checked, and proof read for completeness and accuracy.