Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Azell Harris was shot and killed while moonlighting at a local freight line warehouse at 4th Avenue and 3rd Street North in Birmingham. An employee informed him that two men were stealing lawn mowers from the warehouse docks and loading them in their car. When Officer Harris confronted the suspects a shootout ensued and Officer Harris was mortally wounded. The suspects 23, and 29, were apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. In 1972 their sentences were commuted to life when the U.S. Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional. Officer Harris had served with the Birmingham Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-0C755D9F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Harris gave the Birmingham Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Harris.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Azell L. Harris is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 9.1 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Birmingham Police Department, 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Azell L. Harris's cause is highlighted.
How Azell L. Harris Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Azell L. Harris is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Azell L. Harris was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
48 officers from Birmingham Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
