Roll of Honor
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
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police James H. Durand 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Durand's cause is highlighted.
How James H. Durand Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Durand is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Durand was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Hobson City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.