Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective King and Officer Homer Hubbard were shot and killed while searching for a suspect wanted for shooting another man earlier in the day. Both officers were shot as they approached a shack they believed the suspect was hiding in. The suspect was convicted of both murders and executed on January 22, 1954. The local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, built in 1953, is named for King and Hubbard.
Survivors
Detective King was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-E32299B4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective King served with the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tuscaloosa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective King.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective J. Foster King is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Tuscaloosa Police Department, 9 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. Foster King's cause is highlighted.
How J. Foster King Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. Foster King is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. Foster King was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Tuscaloosa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
