B. W. Tierce
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

B. W. Tierce

Felonious
End of Watch July 15, 1894
The Vigil Panel 12 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff B.W. Tierce was shot and killed as he and several other deputies attempted to stop striking miners from shooting non-union workers. The striking miners, who were bitter over being replaced at their jobs, had hidden near a group of trees and waited until it was time for the miners to get off work for the day. As the miners exited the mine, the strikers shot at them, fatally wounding several. When the deputies responded to the scene and attempted to arrest the strikers, the strikers opened fire. Deputy Tierce was shot in the chest and died almost instantly. By the time the struggle was over, at least six people were dead, and over fifty strikers were arrested. The two strikers deemed responsible for Deputy Tierce's death were charged with murder.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-11C2C533
Stewardship
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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

132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Tierce served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 July 15, 1894
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Deputy Sheriff B. W. Tierce 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 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 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 15 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
15
of 24 officers
62.5% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. B. W. Tierce's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How B. W. Tierce Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. B. W. Tierce is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. B. W. Tierce was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909