Adus Egypsia Windham

Dale County Sheriff's Dept. — Ozark, AL

Felonious

End of Watch September 18, 1927

Age 43

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 54 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Adus Windham and Deputy Sheriff Arthur Kelley were shot and killed from ambush by two subjects due to retaliation of an earlier traffic stop near Cedar Grove Church near Midland City at approximately 4:30 pm.

The deputies had been enforcing the local prohibition laws when they pulled a vehicle over and released the driver after no illegal liquor was found in the vehicle. The suspect returned to the home of his step-father and informed him what had just happened. Both of them armed themselves with a shotgun and .45 caliber handguns and went to the area of the traffic stop. Both deputies were performing a traffic stop when they were both taken off guard. Deputy Kelley was struck multiple times in the torso and killed instantly. He was unable to defend himself and was discovered with his duty weapon still in his holster. Deputy Windham was struck multiple times in the head and torso and suffered both shotgun and pistol wounds. He managed to get one shot off striking the step-father in the head, causing a grazing wound.

Both subjects returned to their home nearby immediately after the shooting where they surrendered to police peaceably without incident. Both subjects were charged with first-degree murder. In February 1928, the step-father was given a life sentence. A year later he received a new trial and was sentenced to 20 years. The step-son was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Deputy Windham was survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, two brothers, and a sister. He had been deputized to assist Deputy Sheriff Arthur Kelley in enforcing the prohibition laws.

Survivors

Deputy Windham was survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, two brothers, and a sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-96F2CE86
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Windham served with the Dale County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Ozark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Windham.

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

Agency

Department Dale County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Ozark, AL

Platform Identity dcso.dale.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 18, 1927

Tour of Duty

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Deputy Sheriff Adus Egypsia Windham is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Dale County Sheriff's Dept., 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Dale County Sheriff's Dept.

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious