James Tillman Moser

Birmingham Police Department — Birmingham, AL

Felonious

End of Watch January 31, 1939

The Vigil Panel 75 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 48

Incident

Detective Moser was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had escaped from death row.

During the arrest the suspect was able to gain control of Detective Moser's service weapon. The suspect then opened fire, killing Detective Moser.

The suspect was convicted of murder and executed on June 14, 1940.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-576B0930
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.
Detective Moser served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Moser.

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

Agency

Department Birmingham Police Department

Type Other

Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1939

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Detective James Tillman Moser 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 Birmingham Police Department, 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 Department

of 49 officers

69.4% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious