Roll of Honor

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Captain

William Henry Beard

Oxford Police Department — Oxford, AL

Felonious

End of Watch August 19, 1977

Age 63

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Captain Beard was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner to the police department off Interstate 20 in Pell City. The prisoner complained that his handcuffs were too tight during the trip. As Captain Beard attempted to loosen the handcuffs the suspect gained control of Captain Beard's service weapon and shot him. Captain Beard had served with the agency for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-5174C57D
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.
Captain Beard gave the Oxford Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oxford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Beard.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Oxford Police Department

Location Oxford, AL

Platform Identity opd.calhoun.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 19, 1977

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 63

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Not available

Captain William Henry Beard 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.

Oxford Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Henry Beard's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Henry Beard Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Henry Beard is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Henry Beard was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Oxford Police Department are honored on badge.nw.