Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Marvin Williams was shot and killed by the driver of a car he had stopped for reckless driving at 6:30 pm. When Chief Williams approached the vehicle, the subject got out of the car and shot Chief Williams. The subject fled, but the other occupants in the vehicle stayed behind. The 25-year-old suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. In 1928 his sentence was commuted to life. He was paroled on August 20, 1941.
Survivors
Chief Williams was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-4ED43B8C- 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.
Chief of Police Williams served with the Midland City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Midland City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Williams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Marvin Williams 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 Midland City Police Dept., 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Marvin Williams's cause is highlighted.
How Marvin Williams Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1941
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Marvin Williams is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Marvin Williams was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Midland City Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
