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Chief of Police

James H. Durand

Hobson City Police Department — Hobson City, AL

Felonious

End of Watch January 22, 1909

Age 56

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 23 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police James Durand succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two months earlier when was shot while investigating claims from a woman that a man had been harassing her.

After Chief Durand spoke to the suspect the man went and obtained a pistol. He then located Chief Durand and shot him in the back. Chief Durand was taken to a hospital in Anniston where he remained until dying on January 22nd, 1909.

The suspect was apprehended in Gulfport, Mississippi, in August of 1912. He was charged with murder but released after two mistrials.

Chief of Police Durand had served with the Hobson City Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-95D83DCF
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Durand gave the Hobson City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hobson City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Durand.

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

Agency

Department Hobson City Police Department

Location Hobson City, AL

Platform Identity hpd.calhoun.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 22, 1909

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 56

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Released

Chief of Police James H. Durand 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%.

Hobson City Police Department

of 1 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. James H. Durand'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 James H. Durand Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Released

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Durand is highlighted in Jan.

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. James H. Durand was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518