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Night Watchman

John Wesley Alford

Watsonville Police Department — Watsonville, CA

Felonious

End of Watch February 7, 1897

Age 41

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Night Watchman John Alford was shot and killed while making his rounds in Watsonville.

No suspects were ever apprehended in connection with his murder.

Watchman Alford had served with the Watsonville Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-57D9231B
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

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Alford gave the Watsonville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Watsonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Watsonville Police Department

Location Watsonville, CA

Platform Identity wpd.santacruz.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 7, 1897

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Never apprehended

Night Watchman John Wesley Alford 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Watsonville 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.

Watsonville Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% 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. John Wesley Alford'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 John Wesley Alford 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

Never apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Wesley Alford is highlighted in Feb.

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. John Wesley Alford 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 Watsonville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.