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Incident
Lieutenant Clifford Hill was killed when a package he was opening exploded. He was in the office of the newly elected public safety commissioner and was assisting the mayor's secretary. An investigation revealed that the package contained a bomb intended for the new public safety commissioner. A former police officer who had purchased bomb making materials and had studied bomb making was tried and convicted for the murder, however, the suspect was later acquitted at a retrial in 1980.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Clifford is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Hill served with the Bessemer Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Hill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Clifford Thomas Hill served in the the United States military (1951â1953) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bessemer Police Department has lost 10 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Clifford is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
Clifford is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Clifford 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 1979, 1 officer at Bessemer Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1979, 5 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1979, 153 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Clifford was 48. 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.
Clifford was 48. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40.
Clifford was 48. 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.
Clifford was 48. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
May holds 10% of these deaths at Bessemer Police Department; January holds the most, 10%. Wednesdays: 10%.
May holds 9.4% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Wednesdays: 11.9%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 10 deaths at Bessemer Police Department. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 10% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63% of all 643 deaths in AL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 0.5% 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 explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.
His people
Bessemer Police Department has 10 officers remembered here, Clifford 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
Military Service
Clifford Thomas Hill served in the United States military (1951–1953) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Clifford Thomas Hill’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 53-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.
