Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Sparks was shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest at a downtown Cullman apartment at the corner of East 1st Avenue and 3rd Street.
He and the Cullman police chief had gone to the apartment in search of a suspect. When they arrived at the location, a female refused to let them. Sheriff Sparks cut his way through a screen door and was confronted by the suspect when he entered the apartment.
Sheriff Sparks and the suspect both told each other to drop their weapons, and then immediately fired at each other. The suspect was killed instantly and Sheriff Sparks was mortally wounded. He was able to walk to a local drug store where he died approximately one hour later.
Sheriff Sparks had been sworn in as sheriff only six months earlier and had served in law enforcement for over five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-E0F7C033- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Sparks gave the Cullman County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cullman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Sparks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John W. Sparks 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Sparks's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Sparks Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Sparks is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Sparks was killed by handgun.