Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Watchman John Alford was shot and killed while making his rounds in Watsonville.
No suspects were ever apprehended in connection with his murder.
Watchman Alford had served with the Watsonville Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-57D9231B- 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
129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Alford gave the Watsonville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Watsonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman John Wesley Alford 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Watsonville 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. John Wesley Alford's cause is highlighted.
How John Wesley Alford Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Wesley Alford is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Wesley Alford was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Watsonville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
