Elsie T. Lewis

Birmingham Police Dept. — Birmingham, AL

Felonious

End of Watch March 3, 1928

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 48

Incident

Motorcycle Officer Elsie Lewis was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped a vehicle, occupied by two men, for running a red light. One of the suspects opened fire, killing Officer Lewis and wounding the other officer. The wounded officer, with a bullet in his leg, chased and cornered the suspects several blocks away. As he fought with them, several citizens came to his assistance and the suspects were subdued. Both suspects were charged with murder. The gunman was convicted of murder and executed in the electric chair on July 10th, 1928.

Survivors

Officer Lewis was survived by his expectant wife and a son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-B5C79CA2
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.
Motorcycle Officer Lewis served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Motorcycle Officer Lewis.

— 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 3, 1928

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Executed in 1928

Motorcycle Officer Elsie T. Lewis 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