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Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Hardy was shot and killed while investigating a noise in the parking lot of Crown Sterling Suites, on Woodcrest Place, where he was working an off-duty security detail. Four suspects were arrested following Deputy Hardy's murder. One of the men was sentenced to death, while charges against two others were dismissed. The fourth suspect was acquitted at trial. One of the men whose charges were dismissed was murdered in 2008. Deputy Hardy had served Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for 23 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and mother.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
23 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Hardy gave the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hardy.
— 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.
William is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William 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 1995, 1 officer at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1894, with 3.
In 1995, 4 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1995, 96 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 58th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1995, 99 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 63rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 49. 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. William had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 17.5 years.
William was 49. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40. William had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
William was 49. 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 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 49. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 33.3% of these deaths at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 13.3%.
July holds 7.4% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Wednesdays: 11.9%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
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, in 40% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63% of all 643 deaths in AL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 23.5% 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, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has 24 officers remembered here, William 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 47-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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