Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Frank Childress succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on November 1st, 1912 while questioning a suspicious person inside of a pawn shop on Second Avenue in Bessemer's business district.
He and another officer were inside of the pawn shop following up on an unrelated investigation when the owner notified him of a man attempting to pawn an expensive watch. As the detectives began to question the man he suddenly pulled a revolver from his coat pocket and shot Detective Childress.
The other officer returned fire as the man fled. Officers and several citizens chased the man to a nearby house where the subject continued firing at them with a second handgun before being shot and killed. It was later determined that the watch had been stolen in a previous burglary.
Detective Childress was taken to a local hospital where he remained until dying on November 7th, 1912.
Detective Childress had served with the Bessemer Police Department for 11 years and had previously served with the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, seven children, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-805AC93C- 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.
Detective Childress gave the Bessemer Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Childress.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Frank Childress 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. Frank Childress's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Childress Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Childress is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Childress was killed by handgun; .41 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Bessemer Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
