Incident
Sergeant Albert Ballard was shot and killed by a bank robbery suspect at 2nd Avenue and 19th Street North in downtown Birmingham. Sergeant Ballard was on patrol when he pulled to the curb and called a potential suspect over to his patrol car. The suspect shot Sergeant Ballard at point-blank range, killing him. The suspect was pursued by Birmingham officers and U.S. Marshals and was shot after firing at two officers. The suspect was wanted in connection to another bank robbery in Atlanta. The handgun used against Sergeant Ballard was the same handgun that was taken from a slain Atlanta bank guard. On May 25, 1985, after three mistrials, the suspect was convicted of murdering Sergeant Ballard and sentenced to life without parole. Sergeant Ballard had served with the Birmingham Police Department for 20 years and was killed two days before he was to retire.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Ballard gave the Birmingham Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Ballard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Birmingham Police Department has lost 49 officers; 34 of them killed feloniously.
Albert is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
Albert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Albert 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 1979, 1 officer at Birmingham Police Department was killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 25 years on record. The heaviest was 2004, with 3.
In 1979, 5 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1979, 153 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Albert was 47. Of the 22 killed feloniously at Birmingham Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.3 and 43.5; the middle age was 34. Albert had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 11.2 years.
Albert was 47. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40. Albert had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Albert was 47. 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. Albert had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Albert was 47. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Albert had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 14.7% of these deaths at Birmingham Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 23.5%.
November holds 8.9% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Thursdays: 13.6%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 69.4% of all 49 deaths at Birmingham Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 50% 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
Birmingham Police Department has 49 officers remembered here, Albert among them.
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J. Wafe Adams
Mar 28, 1900
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George W. Kirkley
Mar 28, 1900
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William P. Walton
Mar 18, 1902
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James H. Mullin
Sep 27, 1903
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Samuel H. Hamilton
May 12, 1907
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Willis A. Smith Mar 10, 1908
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John W. Little Nov 7, 1908
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Loner Denson Camp
Jun 19, 1910
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W. C. Wallace Nov 8, 1910
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Hugh Tully
Oct 13, 1913
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John Aquilla Moore
Dec 5, 1913
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George A. Sims Jan 22, 1918
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John Dickerson Newby Oct 15, 1919
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Sam P. Dobyns Sep 19, 1920
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Walter Claude Hollums Aug 15, 1923
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Ray Payne Feb 12, 1927
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Alexander A. Manley May 26, 1927
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Elsie T. Lewis Mar 3, 1928
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Henry Francis Mills
Aug 8, 1930
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Lee Edward Buckalew May 23, 1931
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William Ira Latham Oct 24, 1932
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Dumas Froy Phillips
Apr 23, 1934
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Forest J. Harris
Feb 8, 1935
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James M. Early Apr 15, 1935
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Homer Earnest Poore Jun 30, 1936
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James Tillman Moser
Jan 31, 1939
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Newton Edward Wolff
Jul 12, 1941
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Fred R. Brockman
Nov 3, 1953
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Herbert C. Osborn
Jul 24, 1962
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Azell L. Harris
May 4, 1969
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Kenneth Lee Spencer, Jr. Jul 13, 1969
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Henry L. Thompson Oct 16, 1972
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Felix Underwood Oct 7, 1973
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William Stanley Jones Aug 9, 1975
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James Earl Rhodes Mar 11, 1978
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Albert Eugene Ballard
Nov 29, 1979
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Edward K. Alley, Jr.
Dec 25, 1980
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Robert D. Patterson
Oct 31, 1982
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Marcus Lawrence Reid Apr 7, 1984
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Sharon K. Robinson
Apr 7, 1984
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Frank H. Dunn Oct 14, 1986
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John Martin Huffman
May 21, 1992
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Robert Sanderson
Jan 29, 1998
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Joseph Jerome Daniels
Nov 18, 2002
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Carlos Winston Owen
Jun 17, 2004
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Harley Alfred Chisholm, III
Jun 17, 2004
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C. Robert Bennett
Jun 17, 2004
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WyTasha Lamar Carter
Jan 13, 2019
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Randall Versie Smith
Dec 28, 2020
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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