Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Rufus Shelley Kendrick was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man for assaulting a woman. Officer Kendrick was off duty when he saw the suspect standing in an alley. He parked his car, leaving his 5-year-old son inside, and walked into the alley to arrest the suspect. A few moments later, the suspect shot Officer Kendrick several times. The suspect, 22, was adjudged insane and committed at the state mental hospital. Officer Kendrick had served with the Bessemer Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-33C089CD- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Kendrick gave the Bessemer Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kendrick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Rufus Shelley Kendrick 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 Bessemer Police Dept., 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rufus Shelley Kendrick's cause is highlighted.
How Rufus Shelley Kendrick Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed to mental hopital
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rufus Shelley Kendrick is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rufus Shelley Kendrick was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Bessemer Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
