Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Kirkley and Officer Wafe Adams were shot and killed while attempting to stop a suspect they had just witnessed committing a robbery. The suspect was sentenced to death and hanged for the murders on June 29, 1901.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-D78D3444- 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 Kirkley served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kirkley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer George W. Kirkley 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George W. Kirkley's cause is highlighted.
How George W. Kirkley Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1901
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George W. Kirkley is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George W. Kirkley was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
48 officers from Birmingham Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
