Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Albert Catron was fatally shot as he and his deputies patrolled Lookout Mountain in the early morning hours. Sheriff Catron noticed a car parked on the side of the road with three men crouched around it. Suspecting that the men were involved in the transport of moonshine, the Sheriff approached to question them. The Sheriff and his deputies saw that the men were in possession of forty gallons of whiskey and attempted to place them under arrest. Two of the suspects fled with three deputies in pursuit, and the final suspect ordered the Sheriff and his remaining deputy not to approach. When the deputy drew his weapon and ordered the suspect to surrender, the suspect drew a revolver and fired, striking the deputy once and Sheriff Catron four times. He then fled the scene.
Sheriff Catron was rushed to a Chatanooga, TN hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his wounds 16 hours later.
Posses scoured the area for the escaped suspect, who turned himself in several days later. The suspect initially claimed that he had been visiting a sick relative at the time of the killing, but he was convicted of murder and sentenced to be hanged. Shortly before his execution was scheduled to take place, he won a new trial by claiming that he had been unaware that Sheriff Catron was an officer of the law and that he had fired on the Sheriff and his deputy because he thought they were robbing him. He was again convicted of murder, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison.
Before serving as Sheriff of Walker County, Sheriff Catron had served as warden in a Walker County convict camp.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children, and he is buried in La Fayette, GA.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-FDC2392B- Stewardship
- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Catron served with the Walker County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lafayette community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Catron.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Albert G. Catron is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Walker County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Albert G. Catron's cause is highlighted.
How Albert G. Catron Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Albert G. Catron is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Albert G. Catron was killed by handgun; revolver.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Walker County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
