James M. Early

Birmingham Police Dept. — Birmingham, AL

Felonious

End of Watch April 15, 1935

The Vigil Panel 69 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 48

Incident

Officer James Early was shot and killed by a burglary suspect that he and several other officers were attempting to arrest. The suspect barricaded himself inside a garage for over an hour. Officer Early was shot five times and killed and a police captain was wounded during the shootout. The suspect surrendered after running out of ammunition. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled on February 25, 1967.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-B270FA49
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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.
Police Officer Early served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Early.

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

Agency

Department Birmingham Police Dept.

Location Birmingham, AL

Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1935

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled in 1967

Police Officer James M. Early 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%.

At Birmingham Police Dept., 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Birmingham Police Dept.

of 49 officers

69.4% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious