John W. Little

Birmingham Police Dept. — Birmingham, AL

Felonious

End of Watch November 7, 1908

The Vigil Panel 23 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 48

Incident

Police Officer Little was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to raid an illegal liquor den. In order to block off escape routes from the house, Police Officer Little went to the back door of the home while his partner knocked on the front entrance. Upon hearing the knocking and ascertaining that the police had come, a guest of the liquor den opened fire on Police Officer Little. Despite being mortally wounded in the exchange, Police Officer Little was able to return fire and kill the suspect. The man who owned the den then began shooting at Police Officer Little's partner, who managed to return fire and kill the suspect.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-932512CB
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.
Police Officer Little served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Little.

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

Agency

Department Birmingham Police Dept.

Location Birmingham, AL

Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 7, 1908

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Not available

Offender Shot and Killed

Police Officer John W. Little 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 Birmingham Police Dept., 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Birmingham Police Dept.

of 49 officers

69.4% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious