Samuel H. Hamilton
Detective

Samuel H. Hamilton

Birmingham Police Department — Birmingham, AL
Felonious
End of Watch May 12, 1907
The Vigil Panel 21 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Hamilton was shot and killed at the scene of a domestic dispute. Detective Hamilton went with a man to his ex-wife's home with a court order awarding him their two children. The woman resisted and opened fire killing Detective Hamilton. The woman was arrested and charged with murder. It was later discovered the court order was a fake and the man was charged with attempted kidnapping. The woman who testified she was trying to shoot her husband was acquitted.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-F6ED4C4E
Stewardship
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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.
Detective Hamilton served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Hamilton.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 12, 1907
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Samuel H. Hamilton 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 Birmingham Police Department, 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Birmingham Police Department
34
of 49 officers
69.4% 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. Samuel H. Hamilton's cause is highlighted.

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

How Samuel H. Hamilton Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel H. Hamilton is highlighted in May.

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. Samuel H. Hamilton was killed by gun.

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