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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Otha Dent was shot and killed when a group of striking miners opened fire on a Birmingham Mineral Branch Railroad train that was transporting members of the Alabama National Guard, several sheriff's deputies, and 50 strikebreakers to a mine near Blocton.
A group of men opened fire with rifles and shotguns, firing hundreds of rounds into the train as it neared trestle No. 9. Deputy Dent, a conductor, and a strikebreaker were killed. Several other passengers on the train were wounded as they returned fire.
Over 30 people were arrested the following day.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Dent served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dent.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has lost 24 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
Otha is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
Otha is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Otha is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1908, 2 officers at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1894, with 3.
In 1908, 6 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1908, 129 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1908, 129 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 42nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Otha was 26. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 34.8 and 47.5; the middle age was 39.5.
Otha was 26. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40.
Otha was 26. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Otha was 26. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 6.7% of these deaths at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; July holds the most, 33.3%. Sundays: 26.7%.
August holds 9.6% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Sundays: 15.6%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 62.5% of all 24 deaths at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 20% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63% of all 643 deaths in AL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 12.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has 24 officers remembered here, Otha among them.
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Robert King Vann Sep 27, 1889
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B. W. Tierce Jul 15, 1894
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Charles M. Cole Jul 24, 1894
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James Walton Smith Jul 24, 1894
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Robert W. Warnock Nov 27, 1898
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Robert Gardner Jul 17, 1908
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Otha Zeiglar Dent Aug 9, 1908
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David Olius Battle
Dec 25, 1910
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James Crawford Bonner
Sep 26, 1913
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Robert Smith Feb 6, 1922
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Jesse G. Thomas Feb 20, 1922
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Samuel Lewis Williams Oct 11, 1927
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Harry B. Lamb
Jul 17, 1928
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Milton F. Ferguson Sep 1, 1943
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Dewey Rickles
Apr 14, 1948
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Phillip Samuel Feld Jul 16, 1980
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Charles Ivan Baker Nov 21, 1981
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Volmer Durwood Owen Sep 4, 1986
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Donald Lawrence Cokeroft
Sep 17, 1988
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James Felton Judd
Jul 14, 1993
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John Henry Kennedy, Jr.
Jul 14, 1993
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William Gerome Hardy
Jul 19, 1995
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Henry Lloyd Brooks
Jan 18, 1997
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Willie Earl Hall
Sep 14, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
