Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Cunningham was shot and killed while assisting other officers searching for a man who had wounded the Chief of Police and Calhoun County sheriff a short time earlier. The chief and sheriff had attempted to arrest the man at his home for causing a disturbance near a local steel plant. The subject opened fire on them as they approached the house, striking the chief in the hip and the sheriff in his belt buckle, before fleeing. Officer Cunningham was shot by the man when he encountered him in the western portion of the city at approximately 4:00 pm. Another officer returned fire and wounded the subject. The 30-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 50 years, and sent to a convict work camp at the Maxine Coal Mine in Jefferson County. On April 20th, 1920, he was killed when a load of rocks fell on him. Officer Cunningham had served with the Anniston Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-5158C326- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Cunningham gave the Anniston Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Anniston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cunningham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John L. Cunningham 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 Anniston Police Department, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Cunningham's cause is highlighted.
How John L. Cunningham Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Cunningham is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Cunningham was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Anniston Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
