William P. Walton
Agency patch
Police Officer

William P. Walton

Birmingham Police Department — Birmingham, AL
Felonious
End of Watch March 18, 1902
Age 56
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Walton was shot and killed while investigating reports of an assault in a home on Morris Avenue, between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. A man who had been in the home located Officer Walton at his post on First Avenue and told him he had been assaulted. Officer Walton went to the home, knocked on the door, and announced himself. The suspect opened the door and immediately fired two shots, striking Officer Walton in the chest twice. The man was arrested by responding officers and charged with Officer Walton's murder. He was sentenced to death an executed by hanging on March 12, 1903. Officer Walton had served with the Birmingham Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Walton gave the Birmingham Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Walton.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1902
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1902, 104 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 56. 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. William had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Birmingham Police Department has 49 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Police Officer William P. Walton

Birmingham Police Department · End of Watch March 18, 1902

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-E

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