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Incident
Police Officer Tommy Thedford was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect following a stakeout at 31st Street and Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer at 4:00 p.m. Officer Thedford was helping two women recover stolen jewelry. When Officer Thedford questioned the subject, the man started to walk away, but quickly turned around and pointed a gun at Officer Thedford. Before Officer Thedford could draw his gun, the man shot him in the head and fled. Officer Thedford was transported to Lloyd Noland Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds at 5:18 p.m. The suspect was a convicted killer recently released from prison. He had served two years of a 12-year sentence for second-degree murder. Since 1966, he had been arrested for burglary ten times. He was also under indictment for attempted murder since his release. He was convicted of Officer Thedford's murder and sentenced to death. Officer Thedford had served with the Bessemer Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Tommy is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Thedford gave the Bessemer Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Thedford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Tommy Lee Thedford served in the U.S. Army (1962â1965) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bessemer Police Department has lost 10 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Tommy is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
Tommy is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Tommy is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1981, 1 officer at Bessemer Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1981, 4 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1981, 126 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 39th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1981, 152 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 32nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Tommy was 37. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Bessemer Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 37.5 and 47; the middle age was 42. Tommy had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Tommy was 37. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40. Tommy had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Tommy was 37. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Tommy had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Tommy was 37. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Tommy had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 10% of these deaths at Bessemer Police Department; January holds the most, 10%. Thursdays: 30%.
October holds 8.6% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Thursdays: 13.6%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 10 deaths at Bessemer Police Department. The weapon recorded was gun, in 10% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63% of all 643 deaths in AL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 23.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Bessemer Police Department has 10 officers remembered here, Tommy among them.
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John Riley Manning
Apr 5, 1889
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John J. Flowers Aug 28, 1902
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Harmon Barton Patridge
Jan 6, 1911
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Frank Childress Nov 7, 1912
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Samuel Ulysses Spence
Sep 15, 1913
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Thomas Benjamin Wallace Feb 29, 1916
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J. Carl Goodwin Jun 15, 1918
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Rufus Shelley Kendrick
Jul 10, 1945
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Clifford Thomas Hill
May 2, 1979
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Tommy Lee Thedford
Oct 1, 1981
Where
Military Service
Tommy Lee Thedford served in the U.S. Army (1962–1965) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Tommy Lee Thedford’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Bessemer Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
