Incident
Officer William Street was killed when he was struck in the head with an axe as he investigated a disturbance at a home near the city's fairgrounds at Holmes Avenue and Pulaski Pike. When he arrived at the home he found it to be occupied by a single man. As he began to leave another man, who had been hidden in a closet, came up from behind and struck him on the head with the axe. The killer was taken from jail by an angry mob of citizens and lynched. Officer Street was a Confederate Civil War Veteran who served in Russell's 4th Alabama Calvary as a private.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-53E8EEB8- 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 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.
Officer Street gave the Huntsville Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville 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
William J. Street served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Officer William J. Street 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 97,759 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 Huntsville Police Department, 7 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Street's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Street Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Street is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Street was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Military Service
William J. Street served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit William J. Street’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Huntsville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.











