Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

B. B. Cox

Sheffield Police Department — Sheffield, AL

Felonious

End of Watch January 24, 1938

Age 49

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 74 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Chief of Police B.B. Cox was shot and killed while attempting to break up a fight at a dance hall. Despite being mortally wounded Chief Cox was able to return fire and killed the suspect, shooting him six times. Chief Cox had served with the Sheffield Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-BB729960
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.
Chief of Police Cox gave the Sheffield Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sheffield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Cox.

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

Agency

Department Sheffield Police Department

Location Sheffield, AL

Platform Identity spd.colbert.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 24, 1938

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police B. B. Cox 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 Sheffield Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Sheffield Police Department

of 3 officers

100% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. B. B. Cox's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How B. B. Cox Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. B. B. Cox is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. B. B. Cox was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Sheffield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

Sergeant

James Nicholas "Nick" Risner