Clifford T. Hill
Lieutenant

Clifford T. Hill

Bessemer Police Dept. — Bessemer, AL
Felonious
End of Watch May 2, 1979
Age 48
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Lieutenant Clifford Hill was killed when a package he was opening exploded. He was in the office of the newly elected public safety commissioner and was assisting the mayor's secretary. An investigation revealed that the package contained a bomb intended for the new public safety commissioner. A former police officer who had purchased bomb making materials and had studied bomb making was tried and convicted for the murder, however, the suspect was later acquitted at a retrial in 1980.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-47EFEEA8
Stewardship
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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.
Lieutenant Hill served with the Bessemer Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Hill.

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

Agency

Location Bessemer, AL
Platform Identity besspd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1979
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Explosives; Bomb
Offender Acquitted in retrial

Lieutenant Clifford T. Hill 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 Bessemer Police Dept., 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Bessemer Police Dept.
10
of 10 officers
100% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clifford T. Hill's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Clifford T. Hill Compares

Age at End of Watch
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted in retrial

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clifford T. Hill is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clifford T. Hill was killed by explosives; bomb.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518