Arthur Lee Kelley

Dale County Sheriff's Dept. — Ozark, AL

Felonious

End of Watch September 18, 1927

Age 31

The Vigil Panel 54 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Arthur Kelley and Deputy Sheriff Adus Windham were shot and killed from ambush by two subjects due to retaliation of an earlier traffic stop near Cedar Grove Church in 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. 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 returned to the area of the traffic stop. The deputies were conducting another traffic stop when they were both shot from ambush. 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 its holster. Deputy Windham was struck multiple times in the head and torso and suffered both shotgun and pistol wounds. He managed to fire one shot, 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 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 Kelley was survived by his wife, five children, four brothers, and three sisters. He had deputized Deputy Windham prior to the incident.

Survivors

Deputy Kelley was survived by his wife, five children, four brothers, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-0426CEB2
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 Kelley 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 Kelley.

— 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

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Deputy Sheriff Arthur Lee Kelley 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