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Incident
Officer Patridge was shot and wounded by a man as he raided a crap game in a local railroad yard. In was thought he was recovering well but blood poisoning set in and he died three weeks later. Officer Patridge and another officer arrested one of the gamblers. They were escorting their prisoner to jail when he suddenly fled and opened fire on the officers as he ran. The other officer fired back. An investigation revealed that the officer and the suspect had pistols that were alike. Officials were unable to tell if the suspect shot him or the other officer accidentally shot him. Officer Patridge was survived by his wife and two children. He is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Bessemer.
Survivors
Officer Patridge was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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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.
Police Officer Patridge served with the Bessemer Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Patridge.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bessemer Police Department has lost 10 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Harmon is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
Harmon is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Harmon 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 1911, 1 officer at Bessemer Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1911, 6 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1911, 149 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1911, 150 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Harmon was 39. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Bessemer Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 37.5 and 47; the middle age was 42.
Harmon was 39. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40.
Harmon was 39. 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.
Harmon was 39. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 10% of these deaths at Bessemer Police Department, more than any other month. Fridays: 20%.
January holds 9.4% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Fridays: 14.6%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 10 deaths at Bessemer Police Department. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63% of all 643 deaths in AL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 19.8% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Bessemer Police Department has 10 officers remembered here, Harmon among them.
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John Riley Manning
Apr 5, 1889
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John J. Flowers Aug 28, 1902
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Harmon Barton Patridge
Jan 6, 1911
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Frank Childress Nov 7, 1912
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Samuel Ulysses Spence
Sep 15, 1913
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Thomas Benjamin Wallace Feb 29, 1916
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J. Carl Goodwin Jun 15, 1918
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Rufus Shelley Kendrick
Jul 10, 1945
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Clifford Thomas Hill
May 2, 1979
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Tommy Lee Thedford
Oct 1, 1981
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Bessemer Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
