Incident
Patrolman Jim McGaha was struck and killed by a vehicle as he struggled with a drunk pedestrian on the 1500 block of Tin Mill Road in Dolomite. Patrolman McGaha and another officer were called to the area after receiving reports of a man sitting in the middle of the road around 1:45 a.m. Patrolman McGaha was attempting to remove the pedestrian from the roadway when the man began to struggle. A vehicle struck both men, killing them. Patrolman McGaha was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran who had served with the Hueytown Police Department for two years and previously served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-2063E1C0- 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.
Patrolman McGaha gave the Hueytown Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hueytown 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
James Monroe McGaha served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman James Monroe McGaha 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. James Monroe McGaha's cause is highlighted.
How James Monroe McGaha Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Monroe McGaha is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Monroe McGaha was killed by automobile.