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Chief of Police

William Houston McCormack

Courtland Police Dept. — Courtland, AL

Felonious

End of Watch May 2, 1948

Age 42

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police William McCormack was shot and killed by the father of a man he had arrested the previous week.

The father held a grudge against Chief McCormack as a result of the arrest and prior incidents. The man located Chief McCormack sitting in a drug store on the town's main street and opened fire on him without provocation, shooting him six times. Despite being mortally wounded, Chief McCormack returned fire and killed the man.

Several bystanders were wounded during the shootout.

Chief McCormack had served with the Courtland Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-CA296DF2
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 McCormack gave the Courtland Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Courtland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police McCormack.

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

Agency

Department Courtland Police Dept.

Location Courtland, AL

Platform Identity courpd.lawrence.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1948

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police William Houston McCormack 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%.

Courtland Police Dept.

of 1 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. William Houston McCormack'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 William Houston McCormack 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. William Houston McCormack is highlighted in May.

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. William Houston McCormack was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518