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Incident
Police Officer John Barbaree was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect on the 100 block of South Hall Street shortly after midnight. Officer Barbaree had gotten traffic duty at Court Square and was walking home when he encountered three people arguing on South Hall Street. He intervened to stop the quarrel and placed all three under arrest. He was searching the first two subjects when the third fled. As he turned to order the man to stop, the man who he had just searched drew a handgun and shot him. Despite his wounds, he was able to return fire and shot the suspect in the head. While the subject was in the hospital the guards were overpowered by angry citizens who then fatally shot him. Officer Barbaree was survived by his wife and two children. Officer Barbaree's brother, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Barbaree, was shot and killed in the line of duty on January 10th, 1929, while serving with the Bullock County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
Officer Barbaree was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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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
You barely got started.
Police Officer Barbaree gave the Montgomery Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Montgomery community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Barbaree.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Montgomery Police Department has lost 28 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John 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 1919, 3 officers at Montgomery Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1919, 9 officers in AL were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1919, 232 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 41. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Montgomery Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 36; the middle age was 30. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 3 years.
John was 41. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 7 years.
John was 41. 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. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 41. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 25% of these deaths at Montgomery Police Department; October holds the most, 25%. Mondays: 18.8%.
September holds 9.9% of these deaths in AL, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.6%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 28 deaths at Montgomery Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 56.3% 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
Montgomery Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, John among them.
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William D. Montgomery Aug 24, 1886
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John Robert Pugh
Oct 11, 1886
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John F. Suggs Feb 15, 1896
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T. Walter Berrey
Oct 5, 1910
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Milton Goocher Mar 1, 1918
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Earl Davis Jun 1, 1919
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John B. Barbaree
Sep 29, 1919
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George Luther Berrey
Oct 19, 1919
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Albert W. Sansom Sep 28, 1922
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Rexford C. Wright Aug 22, 1929
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Andrew O. Brassington Apr 1, 1936
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Raymond Mathis Apr 30, 1936
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Marion C. Stalnaker Oct 1, 1950
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James D. Sanford Sep 20, 1961
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Samuel D. Sumner
Nov 5, 1967
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George Willard McGaughey
Mar 15, 1975
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William Evans Noble
May 5, 1976
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Robert C. Ussery
Jul 21, 1978
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Mary Pearl McCord
Jan 5, 1982
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James Russell Ward
Oct 3, 1994
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Willie Henry Pryor Jan 22, 1995
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Anderson Gordon, III
Sep 24, 1997
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Keith Edwin Houts
Sep 30, 2006
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Kenneth Armstrong
Aug 17, 2007
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Joshuah Patrick Broadway
Jan 25, 2009
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David Lee Colley
Apr 4, 2015
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Carlos Edward Taylor
Jun 30, 2023
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David M. Hathcock
Feb 22, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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