Roll of Honor
James Felton Judd
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Judd and Deputy Sheriff John Kennedy were killed in an automobile accident while transporting a prisoner from Saginaw, Michigan, to Birmingham, Alabama. The accident occurred on I-69 near Auburn, Indiana, as their unmarked car was traveling southbound and struck a construction barrier. Their vehicle then went out of control, crashed into an embankment before going into a stream of the east side of the highway, killing both deputies instantly. The prisoner had been charged with drug possession and was thrown from the vehicle in the accident but survived. Deputy Judd had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, sister and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-EFC06D82- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.
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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Judd gave the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Judd.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Felton Judd served in the U.S. Army (1949â1952) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff James Felton Judd is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AL, 182 of 643 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.3% of this state's fallen. That is 28.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 24 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Felton Judd's cause is highlighted.
How James Felton Judd Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Felton Judd is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Military Service
James Felton Judd served in the U.S. Army (1949–1952) before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Felton Judd’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
