Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Jesse Franklin Rickels

Warrior Police Department — Warrior, AL

Felonious

End of Watch July 27, 1941

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Chief of Police Jess Rickels was shot and killed while placing a prisoner in his patrol car at about 11:30 pm.

Chief Rickels had been sitting in his car at a service station in Warrior when the man drove into the parking lot. Chief Rickels approached him, placed him under arrest, and took him back to his patrol car. As he placed the man in the car the subject drew a pistol and opened fire. Chief Rickels was struck several times but was able to return fire and killed the subject before collapsing.

Chief Rickels was survived by his wife, three sons, and daughter.

Survivors

Chief Rickels was survived by his wife, three sons, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-D6E4A6BA
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 Rickels served with the Warrior Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Warrior community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Rickels.

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

Agency

Department Warrior Police Department

Location Warrior, AL

Platform Identity warrpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1941

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police Jesse Franklin Rickels 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 Warrior Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Warrior Police Department

of 2 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. Jesse Franklin Rickels'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 Jesse Franklin Rickels Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse Franklin Rickels is highlighted in Jul.

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. Jesse Franklin Rickels was killed by handgun.

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

1 officer from Warrior Police Department are honored on badge.nw.