John L. Wainwright
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

John L. Wainwright

Felonious
End of Watch August 30, 1909
The Vigil Panel 23 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Wainwright was shot and killed in Jackson by one of two brothers he was attempting to arrest.

The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and hanged at Grove Hill October 22, 1909. His brother was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Rest in peace always knowing that no passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) August 30th, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-64652EE4
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.
Deputy Sheriff Wainwright served with the Clarke County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Grove Hill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wainwright.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Grove Hill, Clarke County, AL
Platform Identity ccso.clarke.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 30, 1909
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Sheriff John L. Wainwright 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 Clarke County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Clarke County Sheriff's Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Wainwright's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John L. Wainwright Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Wainwright is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Wainwright was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Clarke County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.