Prev
Incident
Detective Sam Sumner died as a result of injuries when his patrol car was involved in a collision at Washington Avenue and Ripley Street in Montgomery. At 12:45 a.m., Detective Sumner's partner was driving west on Washington Avenue when they were struck by a car traveling south on Ripley Street. Detective Sumner was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Margaret's Hospital. His partner suffered head and back injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was charged with manslaughter. Detective Sumner had served with the Montgomery Police Department for ten years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtncvs0zdgbf1hh4gz971- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Samuel. 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.
Detective Sumner gave the Montgomery Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Montgomery community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sumner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Montgomery Police Department has lost 28 officers; 12 of them lost to accidents.
Samuel is one of 182 officers lost to accidents in AL, 28.3% of the 643 remembered there.
Samuel is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Samuel is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1967, 1 officer at Montgomery Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1967, 3 officers in AL were lost to accidents, the 14th heaviest of 85 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 6.
In 1967, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1967, 92 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 34th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Samuel was 37. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Montgomery Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 37; the middle age was 29. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 2 years.
Samuel was 37. Of the 160 lost to accidents in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47.3; the middle age was 36.5. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Samuel was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Samuel was 37. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 8.3% of these deaths at Montgomery Police Department; January holds the most, 16.7%. Sundays: 41.7%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths in AL; July holds the most, 13.2%. Sundays: 18.7%.
November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 42.9% of all 28 deaths at Montgomery Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.3% of all 643 deaths in AL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Montgomery Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.
-
William D. Montgomery Aug 24, 1886
-
John Robert Pugh
Oct 11, 1886
-
John F. Suggs Feb 15, 1896
-
T. Walter Berrey
Oct 5, 1910
-
Milton Goocher Mar 1, 1918
-
Earl Davis Jun 1, 1919
-
John B. Barbaree
Sep 29, 1919
-
George Luther Berrey
Oct 19, 1919
-
Albert W. Sansom Sep 28, 1922
-
Rexford C. Wright Aug 22, 1929
-
Andrew O. Brassington Apr 1, 1936
-
Raymond Mathis Apr 30, 1936
-
Marion C. Stalnaker Oct 1, 1950
-
James D. Sanford Sep 20, 1961
-
Samuel D. Sumner
Nov 5, 1967
-
George Willard McGaughey
Mar 15, 1975
-
William Evans Noble
May 5, 1976
-
Robert C. Ussery
Jul 21, 1978
-
Mary Pearl McCord
Jan 5, 1982
-
James Russell Ward
Oct 3, 1994
-
Willie Henry Pryor Jan 22, 1995
-
Anderson Gordon, III
Sep 24, 1997
-
Keith Edwin Houts
Sep 30, 2006
-
Kenneth Armstrong
Aug 17, 2007
-
Joshuah Patrick Broadway
Jan 25, 2009
-
David Lee Colley
Apr 4, 2015
-
Carlos Edward Taylor
Jun 30, 2023
-
David M. Hathcock
Feb 22, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Montgomery Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
