James Russell Ward
Agency patch
Sergeant

James Russell Ward

Montgomery Police Department — Montgomery, AL
Felonious
End of Watch October 3, 1994
Age 38
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 140 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant James Ward was shot and killed while chasing two robbery suspects. Both suspects were apprehended and charged with his murder. The suspect who shot Sergeant Ward was sentenced to death, but later died in prison while on death row. Sergeant Ward had served with the Montgomery Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and son.

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.
Sergeant Ward gave the Montgomery Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Montgomery community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Ward.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Montgomery, Montgomery County, AL
Platform Identity mpd.montgomery.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 3, 1994
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1994, 93 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 38. 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. James had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Montgomery Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, James among them.

Sergeant James Russell Ward

Montgomery Police Department · End of Watch October 3, 1994

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E

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