Roll of Honor
Len J. Rowell
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Len Rowell was shot and killed by the suspect who had shot and killed Greenville, Alabama, Officer Gary Heath on June 14, 1994. Deputy Rowell had pulled the suspect over at 3:45 am and called in the tag number. Dispatchers came back with nothing on the tag number. As he approached the car, the suspect exited the vehicle shooting. Deputy Rowell was struck six times in the vest and once in the shoulder as he reached for his weapon. He fell to the ground unconscious and was then shot twice in the face. After the suspect murdered Deputy Rowell he was stopped by Lieutenant Coy Smith, of the Alabama Public Safety Commission. As he sat in his patrol car calling in the tag number the suspect shot him in the head, killing him. The suspect committed suicide after being surrounded by federal agents later in the day. Deputy Rowell had served with the Pearl River County Sheriff's Department for eighteen months. He had also served as a US Marine in Operation Desert Storm.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-9B76DDCE- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Rowell gave the Pearl River County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Poplarville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Len J. Rowell served in the Marine Corps (1990â1991) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Len J. Rowell 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pearl River County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Len J. Rowell's cause is highlighted.
How Len J. Rowell Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Len J. Rowell is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Len J. Rowell was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Pearl River County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
