Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy James Anderson succumbed to injuries sustained when he was intentionally struck by the driver of an automobile while making a traffic stop at approximately 1:00 pm.
He and another deputy had stopped a vehicle on Lee Road 240. The driver stopped after pulling into a residential driveway. As Deputy Anderson and the other deputy attempted to make contact with the driver, the man accelerated and struck Deputy Anderson, pinning him underneath the car.
The other deputy was able to remove the suspect from the vehicle and placed him in custody. Other deputies and medics arrived at the scene and freed Deputy Anderson from beneath the vehicle. He was then transported to Columbus Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
The suspect was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole on October 4, 2011. On September 20, 2012 the Lee County Circuit Judge overruled the jury's sentence and sentenced the suspect to death.
Deputy Anderson had served with the Lee County Sheriff's Office for three years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-9F930028- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Anderson gave the Lee County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Opelika community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Anderson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James W. Anderson 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 Lee County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 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. James W. Anderson's cause is highlighted.
How James W. Anderson Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of capital murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. Anderson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James W. Anderson was killed by automobile.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
