Dewey Rickles
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Dewey Rickles

Felonious
End of Watch April 14, 1948
Age 48
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Dewey Rickles was shot and killed as he responded to a domestic disturbance call at a residence in Morris. As he entered the home, he was shot three times when a man opened fire with a rifle. Minutes later, a fellow officer shot and killed the suspect. Deputy Rickles had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Rickles gave the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rickles.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 14, 1948
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Dewey is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1948, 80 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 84th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Dewey 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. Dewey had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has 24 officers remembered here, Dewey among them.

Deputy Sheriff Dewey Rickles

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch April 14, 1948

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-E

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