Peter Christopher "Chris" McCurley

Etowah County Sheriff's Dept. — Gadsden, AL

Felonious

End of Watch October 10, 1997

Age 48

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 144 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Captain Chris McCurley was shot and killed while serving a drug search warrant at 11:00 am on Briar Cliff Road off Lister Ferry Road near the Coosa River. The couple wore body armor when they met the officers at the door. Captain McCurley was shot 18 times through the front door with an AK-47 equipped with a 100-round drum. After breaking down the door with gunfire, the male subject went outside to the yard and shot and wounded three more officers while the female helped him reload. The male suspect was shot and wounded before both suspects were taken into custody. The female suspect pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder and was sentenced to four concurrent 40-year prison terms. She was denied parole in 2018 and will be eligible for parole in 2023. The male suspect was sentenced to death in 1998. He committed suicide in 1999. Captain McCurley had served with the Etowah County Sheriff's Office for 12 years and had just been appointed chief of the Etowah County drug task force.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-2BD1D5D1
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.
Captain McCurley gave the Etowah County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gadsden community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain McCurley.

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

Agency

Department Etowah County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Gadsden, AL

Platform Identity ecso.etowah.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 10, 1997

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; AK-47

Offender Committed Suicide & 40 years

Captain Peter Christopher "Chris" McCurley 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 Etowah County Sheriff's Dept., 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Etowah County Sheriff's Dept.

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious