Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Wallace was shot and killed while coming to the assistance of two detectives who were struggling with a prisoner at the corner of 3rd Street and 19th Street. The detectives had arrested the man a few blocks away and were walking him to jail when the suspect suddenly began fighting with the two. During the initial arrest one of the detectives had taken a revolver from the man and placed it in his pocket. As the suspect struggled with the detectives he reached inside the pocket and retrieved the revolver. He fired a shot that passed through one of the detective's knee and struck Chief Wallace in the chest just as the chief came to their assistance. Chief Wallace was taken to Elizabeth Duncan Hospital where he died three days later. Before he died he made a statement saying the shooting was an accident. No charges were filed. Chief Wallace had served with the agency for 26 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children and is buried in Clay Memorial Cemetery in Cuba.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-5BFDA304- 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
26 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Wallace gave the Bessemer Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Wallace.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Thomas Benjamin Wallace 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 Bessemer Police Department, 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Benjamin Wallace's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Benjamin Wallace Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Benjamin Wallace is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Benjamin Wallace was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Bessemer Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
