Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Jess Rickels was shot and killed while placing a prisoner in his patrol car at about 11:30 pm.
Chief Rickels had been sitting in his car at a service station in Warrior when the man drove into the parking lot. Chief Rickels approached him, placed him under arrest, and took him back to his patrol car. As he placed the man in the car the subject drew a pistol and opened fire. Chief Rickels was struck several times but was able to return fire and killed the subject before collapsing.
Chief Rickels was survived by his wife, three sons, and daughter.
Survivors
Chief Rickels was survived by his wife, three sons, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-D6E4A6BA- 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.
Chief of Police Rickels served with the Warrior Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Warrior community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Rickels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Jesse Franklin Rickels 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 Warrior Police Department, 2 of 2 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. Jesse Franklin Rickels's cause is highlighted.
How Jesse Franklin Rickels Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse Franklin Rickels is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jesse Franklin Rickels was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Warrior Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
