Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Earl Truitt was shot and killed after being lured into an ambush by a family operating several stills on their property in the area of Drummond's Switch, near Empire, Alabama.
Several of the family members were to be indicted by a grand jury later in the day as the result of an investigation by Deputy Truitt in which he had discovered several stills. The head of the family lured him to the property in the morning with the ruse that they would show him the location of another still. As they walked along a field one of the man's sons shot Deputy Truitt from behind with a shotgun, killing him instantly.
The family members then buried Deputy Truitt's body in a pre-dug grave on the edge of their soybean field. They then reburied his body under a driveway several days later. One of the sons was arrested in Georgia one year later and confessed to the murder and the location of Deputy Truitt's body. His body was located. One of the sons was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Another was acquitted. The father and the remaining son fled the area for several years and were ultimately not successfully prosecuted due to the lapse of time and missing witnesses.
Deputy Truitt was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Truitt was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-104AFFCE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Earl. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Truitt served with the Walker County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jasper community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Truitt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Earl W. Truitt 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 Walker County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl W. Truitt's cause is highlighted.
How Earl W. Truitt Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl W. Truitt is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl W. Truitt was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Walker County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
