Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Barbaree was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect on the 100 block of South Hall Street shortly after midnight. Officer Barbaree had gotten traffic duty at Court Square and was walking home when he encountered three people arguing on South Hall Street. He intervened to stop the quarrel and placed all three under arrest. He was searching the first two subjects when the third fled. As he turned to order the man to stop, the man who he had just searched drew a handgun and shot him. Despite his wounds, he was able to return fire and shot the suspect in the head. While the subject was in the hospital the guards were overpowered by angry citizens who then fatally shot him. Officer Barbaree was survived by his wife and two children. Officer Barbaree's brother, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Barbaree, was shot and killed in the line of duty on January 10th, 1929, while serving with the Bullock County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
Officer Barbaree was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-449338F9- 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
You barely got started.
Police Officer Barbaree gave the Montgomery Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Montgomery community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Barbaree.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John B. Barbaree 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 Montgomery Police Dept., 16 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John B. Barbaree's cause is highlighted.
How John B. Barbaree Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by citizens
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John B. Barbaree is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John B. Barbaree was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Montgomery Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
