William P. Walton

Birmingham Police Dept. — Birmingham, AL

Felonious

End of Watch March 18, 1902

Age 56

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 48

Incident

Officer Walton was shot and killed while investigating reports of an assault in a home on Morris Avenue, between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. A man who had been in the home located Officer Walton at his post on First Avenue and told him he had been assaulted. Officer Walton went to the home, knocked on the door, and announced himself. The suspect opened the door and immediately fired two shots, striking Officer Walton in the chest twice. The man was arrested by responding officers and charged with Officer Walton's murder. He was sentenced to death an executed by hanging on March 12, 1903. Officer Walton had served with the Birmingham Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-9FD5D697
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 Walton gave the Birmingham Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Walton.

— 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 March 18, 1902

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 56

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1903

Police Officer William P. Walton 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