Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police William McCormack was shot and killed by the father of a man he had arrested the previous week.
The father held a grudge against Chief McCormack as a result of the arrest and prior incidents. The man located Chief McCormack sitting in a drug store on the town's main street and opened fire on him without provocation, shooting him six times. Despite being mortally wounded, Chief McCormack returned fire and killed the man.
Several bystanders were wounded during the shootout.
Chief McCormack had served with the Courtland Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-CA296DF2- 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.
Chief of Police McCormack gave the Courtland Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Courtland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police McCormack.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police William Houston McCormack 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Houston McCormack's cause is highlighted.
How William Houston McCormack Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Houston McCormack is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Houston McCormack was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Courtland Police Department are honored on badge.nw.