Roll of Honor
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Irvin C. L. Starling
Agency patch
Patrolman

Irvin C. L. Starling

Attalla Police Department — Attalla, AL
Veteran → Felonious
United States flag Alabama flag
End of Watch February 22, 1975
Age 36
Tour of Duty 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 115 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Irvin Starling was shot and killed during a traffic stop of a man who had just beaten his wife moments earlier. As he approached the driver's window the suspect shot him twice before fleeing. The suspect was apprehended a short distance away. The suspect, 49, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. He died in prison on May 21, 2017. Patrolman Starling had served with the Attalla Police Department for six months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-B87BA258
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Irvin is one person.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Starling served with the Attalla Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Attalla community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Starling.

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

Agency

Department Attalla Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Attalla, Etowah County, AL
Platform Identity attapd.etowah.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 22, 1975
Tour of Duty 6 mo
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Irvin C. L. Starling served in the U.S. Army (1950–1955) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Irvin C. L. Starling 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 Attalla Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Attalla Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% 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. Irvin C. L. Starling's cause is highlighted.

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

How Irvin C. L. Starling Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Irvin C. L. Starling is highlighted in Feb.

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. Irvin C. L. Starling was killed by gun.

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

Military Service

Irvin C. L. Starling served in the U.S. Army (1950–1955) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Irvin C. L. Starling’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.