Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Searcy was shot and killed from ambush at approximately 5 a.m. He had taken off his gun belt to adjust some equipment on it when a suspect opened fire on him with a .44 caliber rifle. Chief Searcy was struck ten times and killed almost instantly. The suspect, who had earlier been charged by Chief Searcy for killing an animal without cause, turned himself in approximately 30 minutes later. He was charged with Chief Searcy's murder. On December 5, 1957, he was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. Chief Searcy was a WWII Army veteran and had served as chief of the 2-person Leighton Police Department for 2.5 years. He had previously served with the Colbert County Sheriff's Department for 7.5 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, three brothers, and five sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-096EBB7E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Chief of Police Searcy gave the Leighton Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Leighton 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
Henry J. Searcy served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police Henry J. Searcy is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry J. Searcy's cause is highlighted.
How Henry J. Searcy Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry J. Searcy is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry J. Searcy was killed by rifle; .44 caliber.