Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Robert Sparks was shot and killed, and an officer assisting him was critically wounded while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk and disruptive in public. As they struggled with the man, he grabbed the officer's revolver and shot Chief Sparks five times and the officer once in his abdomen. A nearby store owner, who had called in the complaint, held the suspect at gunpoint until other officers arrived. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. On June 16, 1950, four hours before his scheduled execution, his sentence was commuted to life. Chief Sparks had served with the Oxford Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, four sons and 11 grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-2321AA8C- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Sparks gave the Oxford Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Oxford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Sparks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Robert Elonzo Sparks 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%.
At Oxford Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Elonzo Sparks's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Elonzo Sparks Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Elonzo Sparks is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Elonzo Sparks was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Oxford Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
