Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Nick Risner succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day when he was critically wounded during a shootout with a murder suspect in Muscle Shoals.
The suspect had shot and killed the passenger of a vehicle he was riding in and pushed them out of the vehicle in the 800 block of Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals. The man then stole another vehicle and drove into the city of Sheffield. Muscle Shoals Police sent an area-wide report to surrounding agencies. The vehicle was spotted by members of the Sheffield Police Department and pursued back into Muscle Shoals. Sergeant Risner carried out a PIT maneuver, which is a pursuit tactic in which a pursuing car can force a fleeing car to turn sideways abruptly, causing the driver to lose control and stop. The suspect was in an empty parking lot driving towards a busy Walmart parking lot when he was stopped.
The man opened fire on officers, wounding Sergeant Risner and another officer from the Sheffield Police Department. The subject was also wounded in the exchange of gunfire and taken into custody.
Sergeant Risner was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds the next day despite wearing a bullet-resistant vest. The second officer was saved by his bullet-resistant vest.
Sergeant Risner was a United States Army Reserve veteran and had served with the Sheffield Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, grandparents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-7292149F- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Risner gave the Sheffield Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sheffield community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Nicholas Risner served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant James Nicholas Risner 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 97,759 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 Sheffield Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Nicholas Risner's cause is highlighted.
How James Nicholas Risner Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Nicholas Risner is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Nicholas Risner was killed by handgun; 9 mm.
Incident Location
Military Service
James Nicholas Risner served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Nicholas Risner’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Sheffield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
