Officer Arnold Strickland
Fayette Police Department, AL
End of Watch: Saturday, June 7, 2003

Biographical Info Age: 55
Tour of Duty: 26 yr
Badge Number: 108
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident:
Saturday, June 7, 2003
Weapon Used:
Officer's handgun
Suspect Info:
Charged with capital murder
Officer Arnold Strickland and Corporal Crump were shot and killed at 0530 hours when a suspect grabbed the service weapon of one of the officers and opened fire. The officers were booking the suspect at the police department for operating a stolen vehicle when the incident occurred. Besides killing both officers, the suspect also shot and killed Dispatcher Leslie "Ace" Mealer, who was in the dispatcher's office at the time. The suspect then stole a patrol car and fled the scene. He was apprehended three hours later by deputies from the Lowndes County, Mississippi Sheriff's Office. The suspect faces capital murder charges.

The Fayette, Alabama, Police Department is a 14-person law enforcement agency.

Officer Strickland had 26 years of law enforcement experience and had served with the Fayette Police Department for three years. He is survived by his three sons, two granddaughter and three brothers.
Related Line of Duty Deaths
Corporal James Crump
Fayette Police Department, AL
EOW: Saturday, June 7, 2003

Chief of Police Verlon LeMaster Grant
Police Department, AL
End of Watch: Friday, August 15, 2003

Biographical Info Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 28 yr
Incident Details Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, August 15, 2003
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and apprehendedChief LeMaster was shot and killed after he and two other deputies responded to a location to recover a stolen handgun. Chief LeMaster accompanied Marshall and Madison County deputies to a home on Cathedral Caverns Highway in search of the weapon shortly after 1000 hours. The officers confronted the two juvenile suspects in the house and shots were exchanged. During the gun fight, Chief LeMaster was shot in the face. He was flown to Huntsville Hospital, where he died at 1145 hours. One suspect was shot and wounded by deputies in return gunfire. Chief LeMaster has a total of 28 years of law enforcement experience and had served with the Grant Police Department for 20 years. He had served as the Chief for the past 13 years. The town of Grant is a mountaintop community of about 700 people in northeast Marshall County.Agency Contact Information Grant Police Department 4766 Main Street Grant, AL 35747 Phone: (256) 728-4233 Please contact the agency for funeral information or to send condolences.

Sergeant Larry Russell
Athens Police Department, AL
End of Watch: Friday, January 2, 2004


Biographical Info Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 19 yrs Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, January 2, 2004 Weapon Used: Rifle; 7.62 mm Suspect Info: Charged with capital murderSergeant Russell and Officer Tony Mims were shot and killed when they were ambushed while responding to a call. The suspect, who was intoxicated and has a history of mental illness, had called police at approximately 1245 hours and asked to speak with FBI agents. The suspect then called back minutes later and asked for the police if there were no FBI agencts avalible. When the officers arrived at the scene, they were ambushed and shot several times. The suspect opened fire on Officer Mims when he arrived at the scene shooting him several times through the windshield of his patrol car. Sergeant Russell then arrived at the scene and was shot as he attempted to exit his patrol car. Sergeant Russell was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later. The suspect surrendered at the scene and was taken into custody. He has been charged with two counts of capital murder. Sergeant Russell had served with the Athens Police Department for 19 years, and is survived by his wife and five children.

Officer Tony Mims
Athens Police Department, AL
End of Watch: Friday, January 2, 2004

Biographical Info Age: 40
Tour of Duty: 15 yrs
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, January 2, 2004
Weapon Used: Rifle; 7.62 mm Suspect Info: Charged with capital murderOfficer Mims and Sergeant Larry Russell were shot and killed when they were ambushed while responding to a call. The suspect, who was intoxicated and has a history of mental illness, had called police at approximately 1245 hours and asked to speak with FBI agents. The suspect then called back minutes later and asked for the police if there were no FBI agencts avalible. When the officers arrived at the scene, they were ambushed and shot several times. The suspect opened fire on Officer Mims when he arrived at the scene shooting him several times through the windshield of his patrol car. Sergeant Russell then arrived at the scene and was shot as he attempted to exit his patrol car. Sergeant Russell was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later. The suspect surrendered at the scene and was taken into custody. He has been charged with two counts of capital murder. Officers Mims had served with the Athens Police Department for 15 years and is survived by his wife, four children, and one grandchild.

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Walker was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow officer during a training exercise at the old Wetumpka Post Office.

The officers were using mock service weapons during the training exercise, which had just been completed. Immediately following the training exercise, one of the other officers began carrying his service weapon again. Officer Walker was shot in the abdomen while standing on the loading dock of the post office. He was transported to the Jackson Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds approximately 8 hours later.

Officer Walker had served with the Prattville Police Department for 3 years.

He is survived by his wife.
Agency Contact Information
Prattville Police Department
101 West Main Street
Prattville, AL 36067