Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant James Phillips succumbed to stab wounds he received while attempting to arrest a man for violating local rules on July 7, 1864.
When Sergeant Phillips approached the subject on St. Francis Street near Royal Street in Mobile, the man drew a knife and stabbed Sergeant Phillips in the side before fleeing. Confederate soldiers in the area apprehended the subject.
Sergeant Phillips passed away from his wounds four days later on July 12, 1864.
The suspect was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years.
Sergeant Phillips had served with the Mobile Police Department for four years.
He is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama, in an unmarked grave.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-A7444E71- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
162 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant Phillips gave the Mobile Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mobile community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant James Phillips 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 Mobile Police Department, 18 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Phillips's cause is highlighted.
How James Phillips Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to five years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Phillips is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Phillips was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Mobile Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
