Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Whitten was shot and killed when he answered a knock at his back door at approximately 2100 hours. The suspect in a case that Detective Whitten was investigating hired two hit-men to murder him so that the suspect would not face any jail time. Detective Whitten survived long enough to identify the murderers. All parties involved where charged with murder. Two of the suspects were sentenced to death and the third was sentenced to 25 years in prison. One of the suspects had his sentence reduce to life in prison without parole in 2005 when the United States Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitional to execute convicted murderers who committed their crimes as juveniles. The suspect sentenced to 25 years was denied parole in 2010. His next parole hearing in 2020 was also denied.
Survivors
Detective Whitten was survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-AA0836AD- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ernest. 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.
Detective Whitten served with the Albertville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Albertville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Whitten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Ernest Andrew Whitten 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Andrew Whitten's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Andrew Whitten Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Andrew Whitten is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Andrew Whitten was killed by gun; unknown type.