Charles Lee Sims

Butler County Sheriff's Office — Greenville, AL

Felonious

End of Watch August 21, 1931

Age 53

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Charles Sims was shot and killed after responding to a domestic dispute involving a man and his wife.

While inside the couples home the man shot him in the head with a shotgun. The suspect was apprehended six weeks later in Albion, Michigan. Because of so many lynchings in Alabama, it took more than a month to convince Michigan Governor Wilbur M. Brucker to allow his return to Butler County.

On December 11th, 1931, the suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison on June 6th, 1933.

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Sims served with the Butler County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Sims.

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

Agency

Department Butler County Sheriff's Office

Location Greenville, AL

Platform Identity bcso.butler.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 21, 1931

Age 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun; 16 gauge

Offender Died in prison

Deputy Sheriff Charles Lee Sims 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 Butler County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Butler County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious