Walter Franklin Granger
Agency patch
Marshal

Walter Franklin Granger

Tarrant City Police Department — Tarrant City, AL
Felonious
End of Watch March 17, 1920
Age 63
The Vigil Panel 38 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Walter Granger was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had assaulted a boy earlier in the day. As Marshal Granger approached the man's home, the man opened fire with a 16 gauge shotgun. The blast struck Marshal Granger in the abdomen, killing him. The suspect was arrested the following day and charged with Marshal Granger's murder. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 years. A year later he was granted a new trial. Marshal Granger had served as the city marshal for only 1 month and had previously served as the superintendent of the Jefferson County Prison Farm. He was survived by his wife, four children, sister, and two brothers. One of his brothers also served as a police officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four children, sister, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-637CEEF5
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.
Marshal Granger served with the Tarrant City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tarrant City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Granger.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Tarrant City, AL
Platform Identity tarrpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 17, 1920
Age 63
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Marshal Walter Franklin Granger 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%.

Tarrant City Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% 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. Walter Franklin Granger's cause is highlighted.

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

How Walter Franklin Granger Compares

Age at Death
63
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Franklin Granger is highlighted in Mar.

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. Walter Franklin Granger was killed by shotgun.

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

0 officers from Tarrant City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.